Rong Qiqiang remained silent, indicating for him to explain further.
"His name is Gou Feng. The adopted son of Hei Bao's cousin, Cheung Qi. But that's only what appears on paper."
Yun He's smile widened.
"The one who actually raised him… was Hei Bao."
Rong Qiqiang's eyes sharpened.
"Are you certain?"
"I verified it through three different sources."
Yun He folded his arms confidently.
"He has lived under Hei Bao's protection since childhood. The Mundane Council knows. Even several high-ranking officials know."
He let out a chuckle.
"And yet… They've all kept that information hidden from us."
He tilted his head toward his brother.
"Doesn't that strike you as odd? Our clan has been kept in the dark while everyone else seems to know. Doesn't that insult you, Brother?"
Rong Qiqiang tapped a finger thoughtfully against the armrest.
"...Interesting."
His gaze shifted toward Yun He.
"What exactly are you implying?"
Yun He's crimson eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"I'm saying… that we've finally found Hei Bao's weakness."
Rong Qiqiang remained expressionless.
"And what makes you so certain that Gou Feng is that weakness?"
He studied his younger brother carefully, and noticed this completely wears his confident expression.
"Because people don't hide what doesn't matter. If Gou Feng were merely Cheung Qi's adopted son, there would be no reason for Hei Bao himself to raise him."
Yun He's smile never wavered.
"No reason for the Mundane Council to keep his identity from the other clans."
He leaned in slightly.
"Ask yourself this, Brother. If someone under your protection meant nothing to you… Would you spend years keeping them hidden?"
Rong Qiqiang fell silent, schrammt considering his younger brother's questions.
If Gou Feng were truly insignificant. There would have been no reason to conceal his existence.
Especially not from the other clans. Only someone worth protecting would warrant that level of secrecy.
"Weaknesses make excellent leverage. But they also make dangerous bait." he uttered.
"...Perhaps, you aren't as hopeless as I thought."
A faint smile appeared on his face. It wasn't born of amusement. It was the smile of a man who had just discovered a new angle on the battlefield.
"I assume you've already thought of a plan."
Yun He smiled.
"I have. But I'll need your support."
Rong Qiqiang held his younger brother's gaze for several long seconds. Then, at last, he gave a slow nod.
"Very well. Tell me everything."
Outside, the white sedan remained motionless beneath the light of the sun.
On the other side of the city, one of B City's most prestigious universities buzzed with activity.
It was already 12:30 p.m. the start of the lunch break.
The cafeteria was packed with students. Conversations overlapped with laughter, while the clatter of trays and utensils echoed throughout the hall.
Amid the bustling crowd, three young men occupied a table tucked away in a quiet corner.
Gou Feng sat calmly with his lunch, accompanied by his two childhood friends. Huan Zhan, who could never seem to stop talking, and Shen Jiu, who noticed far more than he ever said.
"So," Huan Zhan began between mouthfuls of food,
"Why were you late to class this morning? Our dorm is barely a ten-minute walk from the lecture hall."
His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"...Don't tell me you didn't come back to the dorm last night."
Before Gou Feng could answer, Huan Zhan leaned farther across the table.
"Did the Pact Leader do something to you?"
Smack.
A chopstick landed squarely on the back of his head.
"Ow!"
Huan Zhan rubbed the sore spot before glaring at Shen Jiu.
"What was that for?"
Shen Jiu looked at him with utter disappointment.
"...Are you actually stupid?"
"What now?" Huan Zhan shot back.
Shen Jiu sighed.
"What exactly do you think the man who practically raised Gou Feng would do to him?"
Huan Zhan opened his mouth, only to close it again.
"..."
Right… What would the Pact Leader do to the person he had raised himself?
To be fair, Gou Feng had never shared much about his relationship with Hei Bao.
They knew their Pact Leader had taken him in years ago, given him a place to call home, and offered him a second chance at life.
Beyond that, they knew very little.
The details of their life together had always remained private.
Most people naturally assumed their relationship was distant and formal.
After all, Hei Bao rarely displayed affection in public. His expression was almost always calm and unreadable, making him seem unapproachable even to those who had served under him for years.
Even Gou Feng sometimes found it difficult to describe what Hei Bao truly was to him.
He had told them as much before. So, in a way, Huan Zhan couldn't entirely be blamed for assuming the worst.
From the outside, Hei Bao's cold demeanor made it easy for anyone to misunderstand him.
Still, no matter how aloof or intimidating their pact leader appeared, he shouldn't have been so quick to judge him.
Some things could never be understood by merely looking at the surface.
Just thinking back to what had happened at the Korean restaurant yesterday was enough to send a chill down Huan Zhan's spine.
Even now, he could still remember the goosebumps that had risen on his arms when he heard Hei Bao speak to Gou Feng with such quiet patience and gentleness.
It had been so unnatural that, for a moment, he had wondered if they were looking at the wrong person.
Huan Zhan instinctively wrapped both arms around himself, rubbing his shoulders as if an inexplicable chill crept over him.
Seeing his cousin finally thinking, Shen Jiu pointed his chopsticks toward Gou Feng.
"Why don't you use your eyes for once? Look at him properly."
Huan Zhan obediently turned toward Gou Feng.
Only then did he notice the faint paleness on his friend's face and the slight tiredness beneath his eyes.
"...You look terrible."
Gou Feng let out a helpless sigh.
"Thank you for finally noticing."
Huan Zhan frowned.
"Is it because of that headache yesterday?"
Gou Feng nodded lightly.
"I also had a fever last night."
Both of them immediately stopped eating.
"...A fever?"
"Mm." Gou Feng took another bite of rice before continuing.
"It's mostly gone now."
"You saw a doctor?"
"No." Gou Feng shook his head.
"Lord Bao looked after me."
"..."
"..."
Both cousins became speechless. For several long seconds, the table fell completely silent, then without warning.
"HE TOOK CARE OF YOU?!"
Their shout nearly shook the entire cafeteria. Students from nearby tables turned to stare.
Even a professor passing by the entrance glanced in their direction.
Realizing they had become the center of attention, Huan Zhan and Shen Jiu awkwardly lowered their heads.
"...Sorry."
"...We got a little excited. Hehe."
Once the surrounding students lost interest and returned to their own conversations, Huan Zhan leaned across the table again, this time speaking in a whisper.
"You're serious?"
Gou Feng nodded.
"He stayed with me until my fever went down."
Huan Zhan stared blankly, even Shen Jiu looked equally stunned.
Neither of them had expected that answer.
Watching their expressions, Gou Feng couldn't help but chuckle.
If they knew the whole story…
What kind of faces would they make?
The reason he had arrived late was because their Pact Leader had insisted on making sure he was fully recovered before allowing him to leave.
That morning, just as Gou Feng was about to leave the Bao Estate, two of the Lycan guards who had always been stationed outside the entrance stepped forward and respectfully stopped him.
The guard informed him that Hei Bao had given strict instructions not to let him leave yet and asked that he wait until the Pact Leader returned.
Gou Feng had been puzzled.
In the past, Hei Bao had never cared whether he left the estate. He had always allowed him to go as he pleased.
But this time was different.
What changed?
Did something happen?
Hei Bao was not the type to impose such strict orders without a reason.
Gou Feng asked the guards whether something had happened, but they merely shook their heads.
Remaining expressionless, they respectfully gestured for him to return inside the estate.
With no other choice, Gou Feng quietly obeyed.
One thing Hei Bao valued above all else was absolute obedience. He disliked having his instructions questioned, ignored, or carried out carelessly.
More importantly, if Gou Feng chose to disobey, it would not be him who bore the consequences.
It would be the guards entrusted with carrying out Hei Bao's orders.
So he had simply gone back inside.
With nothing else to do, he wandered into the kitchen. Feeling slightly hungry, he decided to prepare a simple breakfast, hoping to finish eating before Hei Bao returned.
To his surprise, the front door opened just as he finished cooking.
Hei Bao walked in carrying takeaway containers.
The two of them stood there for a brief moment, looking at one another.
Then Hei Bao's eyes shifted toward the food on the table.
Without saying a word, he set the takeout aside, and said.
"I'll have yours."
Before Gou Feng could react, Hei Bao had already taken a seat and calmly began eating the meal he had cooked.
Meanwhile, he pushed the unopened takeaway toward Gou Feng.
"You eat this."
"..."
It had happened so naturally that Gou Feng hadn't even thought to refuse.
After breakfast, Hei Bao checked his temperature himself. Only after confirming that the fever had subsided did he personally drive him back to the university.