Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO

Better a fellow Daoist die than I. If Ghost Elder and Poison Elder run out, they might be able to draw some of their attention. Then, if I can get back to Tianhai safely, I'll figure out a way to deal with these tails.

"Divine Doctor Xu, please, you must think of a way for us to survive..." Poison Elder pleaded. "We're at our wit's end and have no one to help us. Please don't cast us out."

Xu Ke remained silent, merely turning his back to walk toward the floor-to-ceiling window.

Seeing his silent refusal, Poison Elder and Ghost Elder exchanged a look, their eyes flashing with resolve.

Suddenly, the two of them rose and knelt in unison.

THUD.

Tang Yingchang, standing behind them, jumped in surprise.

"What are you doing?" Xu Ke asked, turning his head. The aura flaring around him quickly subsided.

For a moment, he thought they were going to take him hostage.

"Divine Doctor Xu, if you can lead us out of this deathtrap, from this day forward, my husband and I will pledge our lives to you," they said, looking up at Xu Ke.

This had been their goal from the very beginning.

To pledge their lives.

To have Xu Ke help them survive.

"I have no interest in you two. I already have stronger people by my side," Xu Ke said, waving his hand dismissively.

Poison Elder grew anxious. "Divine Doctor Xu, our strength as a couple may not be top-tier right now, but I know you can help me achieve the Great Completion Poison Body!"

"If I can truly escape this danger, once I achieve the Poison Body, I will be the sharpest blade at your command!"

The day she achieved the Great Completion of the Poison Body would be the day she was completely reborn. After all, a master of the Great Completion Poison Body, even one at the Innate Mid Stage, was so terrifying that even an expert at Innate Great Perfection wouldn't dare engage them in close combat. Furthermore, Poison Elder's cultivation realm would surely skyrocket by then.

The pledge of such a powerful expert was a tempting offer for anyone.

At this moment, Tang Yingchang finally understood. This was what Poison Elder had wanted to ask Xu Ke for on the night Kang Chenghua died.

"Alright, I'll think about it..." Xu Ke said, turning away and sinking into thought.

Seeing this, Ghost Elder and Poison Elder were overjoyed.

"It's either you die, or they die..." Xu Ke mused, stroking his chin. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Right, who said there are no Innate Great Perfection experts around here to borrow?"

"Who else?" the kneeling couple asked, startled.

"Shi Hongda and the Yin-Yang Elders!" Xu Ke exclaimed, clapping his hands together.

The three of them stared with wide eyes.

Does Xu Ke know what he's saying? Weren't those three the main culprits trying to kill them? How could he borrow from them?

"First, I'll call Bai Qian'er," Xu Ke said, pulling out his phone and walking out of the room.

Now the three of them were utterly bewildered.

How did Bai Qian'er get involved?

「6:30 p.m.」

Xu Ke left his room and went to the banquet alone. As for Ghost Elder and Poison Elder, after taking the poison Xu Ke gave them for control, they were left in the room to recuperate. Tang Yingchang remained to monitor and protect them.

As Xu Ke reached the elevator, he happened to run into Bai Qian'er and her two companions.

The moment they met, Bai Qian'er stressed, "Remember to keep your promise to me."

"No problem. I'll take care of it once we're in Tianhai," Xu Ke replied, making an "OK" gesture.

Bai Qian'er looked doubtful but didn't press the issue.

Standing beside them, Fang Caizhe's face turned green with anger.

How long has Xu Ke even known Bai Qian'er? Now they're already sharing inside jokes right in front of him, someone who's been pursuing her for ages. How could he not be driven mad with jealousy? What made it even more frustrating was that Bai Qian'er had asked him to investigate Xu Ke this afternoon. He had wanted to show off his family's strength to her, but it turned out she wanted him to investigate Xu Ke... From another perspective, doesn't that just mean Bai Qian'er wants to understand her love rival better?

That was why he now looked at Xu Ke as if he were his father's murderer.

Xu Ke paid no mind to Fang Caizhe's glare, walking past him to chat with Duan Zhuo'e and Bai Qian'er. "When are you heading to Tianhai?"

"We're going tomorrow. I hear Da Tou and Ma Tong came up empty-handed and need our help," Duan Zhuo'e was the first to reply.

Da Tou and Ma Tong? Xu Ke was puzzled by the nicknames.

"I see," Xu Ke replied vaguely. "In that case, shall we leave together tomorrow?"

Duan Zhuo'e and Bai Qian'er's eyes flickered.

"Leave together? Who wants to go with you?" Fang Caizhe scoffed. "Go back by yourself."

"Whatever you say," Xu Ke said with a smile.

DING.

The elevator arrived.

Fang Caizhe stormed out first, as if he couldn't stand to be in the same space as Xu Ke for another second. Afterward, the other three walked out together, looking like a single group, which made Fang Caizhe feel incredibly humiliated.

When they reached the private room, Xu Ke saw that Shi Hongda and the Yin-Yang Elders were already there. Among the locals present, besides Xie Jiancheng, there was another middle-aged man in a light-colored shirt.

Upon seeing Xu Ke, a fleeting, smug look flashed across Shi Hongda's eyes before vanishing completely. He wanted to mock Xu Ke, but he was afraid that speaking too soon might alert Xu Ke and ruin their plan, so he kept his mouth shut.

Xie Jiancheng and the middle-aged man stood up.

"You've arrived?" Xie Jiancheng said with a slight smile.

The man in the light shirt also smiled and extended his hand. "You must be Xu Ke?"

He clearly already knew Fang Caizhe and Duan Zhuo'e, so his attention was entirely focused on Xu Ke from the start.

"Hello. May I ask who you are?" Xu Ke asked, extending his own hand with a polite smile.

"I'm Bai Lejing, Qian'er's father," Bai Lejing said with a grin.

"Uncle Bai, hello." Only then did Xu Ke notice that Bai Lejing's ears looked strangely similar to Bai Qian'er's.

"Elder Master Zhou entrusted us with your care. I apologize for not fulfilling that duty, as I've been very busy," Bai Lejing said apologetically.

Zhou Hongsheng hadn't specified much about Xu Ke's background. However, given the Bai Family's sharp intuition, combined with Xie Jiancheng's unusual behavior today, they naturally deduced that Xu Ke's identity must be extraordinary. That was why Bai Lejing had rushed to the Deyun Hotel as soon as he was finished with his affairs.

Xu Ke shook his head. "Not at all. Miss Bai has already solved many troubles for me on behalf of the Bai Family."

Bai Qian'er was not at all reserved. "That's right, Dad. No need to be so polite with him."

"Be quiet," Bai Lejing said, glaring at his daughter.

Bai Qian'er mumbled something and fell silent.

Xu Ke chuckled. "Uncle Bai, Qian'er is right."

Bai Lejing shook his head. "This daughter of mine has quite a temper. You don't think I know that, do you?"

After he spoke, the two men laughed together. For a moment, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Seeing this, Xie Jiancheng quickly interjected, "Lejing, if you want to apologize to Xu Ke, you can do it after we eat. Let's all sit down first. No need to stand around talking."

He cursed inwardly. Why doesn't the Xie Family have a single girl as beautiful as Bai Qian'er? During the auction, I sent out a message trying to find a good-looking girl from the Xie Family to "compete" with Bai Qian'er and build a connection with Xu Ke. But there were none. Now, all I can do is envy Bai Lejing, who I haven't seen for the past two days, for so quickly forming a good relationship with Xu Ke through his daughter. It makes me wish I had a daughter...

"Right, right. Let's sit, let's sit," Bai Lejing said, pulling Xu Ke over to a seat.

Once everyone was seated, the dishes began to arrive.

"Actually, the main purpose of this meal is to give a farewell to our distinguished guests who have come from so far away," Xie Jiancheng announced.