Early the next morning, Ye Fei, Xu Shuyun, Ye Jing, and Ye Yunqi made their way to the Ye Family Hall together, where Ye Lingtian's funeral was to be held.
Upon entering the solemn, meticulously decorated mourning hall and seeing Ye Lingtian's portrait, Xu Shuyun and Ye Jing, who had been holding back their grief, couldn't help but break down in tears once more. Ye Yunqi, too, began to sob.
Ye Fei felt the weight of sorrow as well, but he knew there were far too many responsibilities on his shoulders today, and there was no time for him to indulge in grief.
Around nine o'clock, the women who had gathered at Ye Lingtian's house the previous evening also arrived. The morning was dedicated to family members and the members of Lingyun Society paying their respects.
As the only male in the Ye family, Ye Fei was tasked with overseeing all the funeral rituals, including greeting guests and organizing the memorial ceremony. Though he had immense strength and ability, he lacked experience in these formalities, and for a while, he was swamped and sweating from the effort. Thankfully, Zhang Yide and others were there to assist, or he might have been overwhelmed.
By noon, the ceremony was finally prepared. Afterward, Liu Yiru and the other women sat beside Xu Shuyun and Ye Jing, comforting them quietly. Ye Fei, having completed the morning duties, noticed the two girls had calmed down and were ready for the afternoon's proceedings. Seeing that they were coping, he felt somewhat relieved.
After lunch, the guests began to arrive. As Lingyun Society was the dominant underground force in Wanghai, with considerable influence in legitimate businesses, those who had ties with the Ye family—whether from the business world or the underworld—felt compelled to attend the funeral of Ye Lingtian, the former head of the family.
While the guests paid their respects, the women were able to rest, only needing to observe the proceedings. However, Ye Fei found himself constantly engaged, exchanging pleasantries and making sure to show the proper respect to the visitors.
The first arrivals were businessmen and gang leaders with favorable relations with the Ye family. They had, of course, heard of Ye Fei, knowing he was now the one running the family, but most were meeting him for the first time.
Though Ye Fei had an impressive appearance and didn't seem as incompetent as some rumors had suggested, he was still very young, and many couldn't help but look down on him.
Ye Fei noticed the condescending looks but didn't take them to heart. As long as no one openly disrespected him, he wouldn't bother. He was confident that soon enough, these people would realize that ambition isn't constrained by age.
They had gathered thousands under their command. With their combined forces, especially those Ye Fei had personally enhanced, taking down the Qinglong Gang wouldn't be too difficult. This would also be a good chance to test the loyalty of the new recruits.
Having made up his mind, Ye Fei calmly stepped forward, standing next to Zhang Yide. He held up a hand to prevent Zhang Yide from reacting further and addressed Hu Yibiao. "Boss Hu, since you're here, please pay your respects to my uncle's spirit. Whatever else you have to say, we can discuss afterward."
Seeing Ye Fei's youthful face, Hu Yibiao's expression turned to one of mocking disdain. He laughed derisively, "I thought the new leader of Lingyun Society might be a force to be reckoned with, but it turns out he's just a kid!"
Hu Yibiao had come with the intention of humiliating Lingyun Society, especially its young leader. Lingyun had overshadowed the Qinglong Gang for years, and now that its leadership had passed to an eighteen year-old, Hu Yibiao saw the perfect opportunity to vent his frustrations.
Moreover, he figured Ye Fei wouldn't dare retaliate—after all, Wanghai's underground world was teetering on the edge, and no one wanted to start a war.
But this time, Hu Yibiao had underestimated his opponent. Ye Fei, fully confident in his ability to take complete control of Wanghai, wasn't concerned about the delicate balance of power. His voice hardened, "So it seems Boss Hu isn't here to pay respects to my uncle?"
Hu Yibiao burst into laughter, "Of course not! Even when Ye Lingtian was alive, I, Hu Yibiao, never bowed to him! Why would I bow now that he's dead?"
Ye Fei's expression remained cold and unreadable. "Then you have no reason to be here," he said, his tone sharp. Before anyone could fully comprehend his words, the sound of a "*Bang" gunshot rang out, crisp and clear.
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