It seemed the entire Ma family knew how crucial this was to them.
Upon seeing the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Chest in Xu Fei’s hands, the servant rushed back to report, forgetting even to close the gate.
“Sir, let’s wait until he’s finished reporting before we go in!”
Just as Xu Fei was about to push the gate open, Ma Sanlaizi kindly reminded him, clearly still holding great respect for the Ma family’s grand mansion.
“What’s there to fear? You’ve got the treasure chest in your hands now, so you should speak with some confidence, got it?”
With that, Xu Fei boldly pushed open the heavy, red-lacquered gate and strode inside.
Seeing this, Ma Sanlaizi, despite his fear and hesitation, had no choice but to follow.
In a hall within the Ma family mansion, an elderly man was reclining slightly in a chair, a teapot by his side.
Suddenly, hearing a servant rushing in frantically, he opened his eyes with a hint of irritation and said, “What’s got you in such a panic? Have you no composure at all?”
“R-reporting to the Grand Patriarch, Ma Sanlaizi has returned with someone, and he’s brought the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Chest!”
At these words, the Grand Patriarch, who had just lectured the servant on staying calm, was so shocked that the teapot slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.
“What? Repeat that one more time?”
“I said Ma Sanlaizi has returned with the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Chest!”
Without another word, the Grand Patriarch sprang to his feet and raised a hand urgently.
“Quick, take me to see!”
Before he could finish, a hearty voice rang out from outside.
“No need, we’ve already brought the item and come in ourselves!”
As the voice fell, the Grand Patriarch saw a spirited young man stride in, followed by none other than Ma Sanlaizi!
“Second Brother… is it really you?”
At the sight of the old man seated there, Ma Sanlaizi burst into tears.
He recognised him instantly, this was his second brother from years ago!
Time had flown, and after Ma Sanlaizi’s long absence, their parents’ generation had passed away one by one, now his second brother had become the Ma family patriarch!
“You… you wretched boy, you dare come back? I’ll break your legs!”
As the elder brother, the Ma patriarch, seeing Ma Sanlaizi’s return, grabbed the dragon-headed cane by his chair, ready to strike, but Xu Fei naturally stepped in to stop him.
“Hey, old man, don’t get so worked up, you wouldn’t want to harm your health, it’s not worth it. Otherwise, you might not live to see the day the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Chest is opened!”
As he spoke, Xu Fei once again produced his trump card, the exquisitely carved Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Chest.
Perhaps because of his overwhelming confidence in his own strength, Xu Fei seemed fearless.
He placed the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Chest directly on the table in front of the patriarch, as if he had no concern at all about it being snatched away.
When the Ma patriarch saw the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Chest, tears of excitement welled up uncontrollably, and it took him a moment to compose himself before he asked, “Young man, this is the Ma family. Aren’t you afraid that if you show this, I’ll have my people seize you at once?”
