The next day was the day of Ke Bancheng's birthday celebration. After the discussion was over at the Lingyan Pavilion, Xiao Lan immediately arranged for Xu Fan to have a plane ticket to Shanghai.

Accompanying Xu Fan were Zhou Zhanlong and Hu Busan, while the others were tasked with looking after Jinling's affairs.

Early the next morning, the three of them boarded the flight to Shanghai.

The distance between Shanghai and Jinling was not very far, so by noon, the three of them had arrived in Shanghai.

Escorted by Zhou Zhanlong and Hu Busan, once they exited the gates of Hongqiao Airport, they could see the towering skyscrapers sprouting up like bamboo after rain and the ceaseless flow of traffic all around.

As they gazed at the endless prosperity, Zhou Zhanlong and Hu Busan felt a surge of grand ambition well up in their chests.

"Hu Busan, where's the contact?"

Xu Fan was much more composed. After a quick scan, he asked Hu Busan about their reception.

Before coming, they had instructed the Lingyan Pavilion's contact in the city to meet them at the airport. Acknowledging with a sound, Hu Busan took out his cell phone and started contacting the person.

"Master, they are here."

Most likely having been waiting nearby, after Hu Busan's call, it wasn't long before several black Audi sedans pulled up in front of Xu Fan.

"Master, please get in the car," Zhou Zhanlong said attentively as he opened the car door for Xu Fan. Xu Fan nodded and settled into the back seat.

Once the three were all in the car, the vehicles started to move.

...

As a well-known tycoon in Shanghai, news of Ke Bancheng's birthday banquet had spread far and wide in the city.

Since the invited were all Shanghai's elite, to avoid disturbances from outsiders, Ke Bancheng had gone all out and rented the city's most bustling hotel, the Eastern Hotel, for the event.

Now several Audi sedans stopped at the entrance of the Eastern Hotel, and when their subordinates opened the doors, Xu Fan and his companions stepped out.

"Heh heh, master, by my estimation, Ke Bancheng has invited quite a number of celebrities today," Hu Busan said with narrowed eyes as they observed the array of luxury cars that already filled the hotel's parking lot.

He guessed that today, probably the whole of Shanghai's famous families were present.

The thought of slapping the Ke Family's face at such an occasion was exhilarating.

"Hu Busan, what about the gift you were supposed to prepare yesterday?"

Xu Fan did not engage in further banter with Hu Busan, going straight to the point with his question.

Hu Busan nodded and looked towards his subordinates.

At Xu Fan's instruction the previous day, he had told the personnel in Shanghai to get it ready, and by now, it should have been delivered.

"Heh heh, master, it's been brought here."

After a quick exchange with his subordinates, soon, several strong men were seen carrying a massive gift box, enough for three people to hold, towards them.

This gift truly deserved the title of a grand gift, as it took a group of four men to carry it over with some difficulty.

Once they set it down in front of him, Xu Fan looked at Zhou Zhanlong.

"Zhou Zhanlong, you should be able to lift it, right?"

The chest weighed nearly a thousand pounds, an impossible feat for the average person to carry, and Zhou Zhanlong knew this was Xu Fan's test. He chuckled and said, "Master, don't worry, it's a piece of cake."

After a deep breath, Zhou Zhanlong summoned his Inner Strength, propped the chest with one hand, and effortlessly lifted it.

"Alright, you two come with me, the rest can disperse," Xu Fan instructed.

Giving Zhou Zhanlong a faint glance, Xu Fan issued an instruction and then, leading Hu Busan and Zhou Zhanlong, walked straight into the hotel's main entrance.

"Gentlemen, please wait!"

Ke Bancheng was holding a banquet on the top floor of the Eastern Hotel at the moment, and Xu Fan, leading the other two, was now about to take the freight elevator to the top floor.

But before the three of them could enter the elevator, several security guards charged over directly.

"Gentlemen, excuse me, but our hotel has been booked by a guest today. People uninvolved with the event are not allowed to go up..."

It was unclear whether it was Zhou Zhanlong's fierce appearance that intimidated them, but the security guards spoke with exceptional courtesy.

"Hmm? We've brought such a big gift, do we also count as the uninvolved?"

Xu Fan asked with a smile, and seeing that the freight elevator had arrived at the lobby, he took the lead and walked straight in.

"Sir..."

Seeing the other two follow Xu Fan into the elevator, the security guards wanted to block them, but the fierce glare from Zhou Zhanlong as he turned his head immediately made them stop.

Thinking that the top floor had other guards and if they were guests, they would naturally be let in; if not, others would handle them, so the guards decided not to interfere any further.

The elevator doors closed, and after Hu Busan pressed the button for the top floor, the elevator slowly started ascending.

Soon, the doors opened again, and one could see not far away, several bodyguards guarding the entrance to the banquet hall.

The banquet must have already started some time ago, as there were no others at the entrance, only the lively sound of conversation inside.

"Stop right there! Do you have... an invitation?"

The few bodyguards standing idly at the door were quite frightened when they saw Zhou Zhanlong and the others carrying the large gift box.

How strong must this guy be to lift that thing so effortlessly?

Seeing these bodyguards stand in front of the door as if facing a major threat, Xu Fan narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, please do us a favor and let us in to wish someone a happy birthday."

"Without an invitation, you better scram!"

Their tone was clear—without an invitation, the bodyguards instinctively reached for the weapons fastened at their waists, ready to take action!

"Nonsense!"

Before Xu Fan could act, Zhou Zhanlong frowned and, holding the large box in his arms, swept it horizontally, directly knocking several bodyguards flying!

The box, weighing a full thousand pounds, combined with the force he exerted, was too much for even the skilled to bear.

Seeing the bodyguards lying on the ground unable to get up, Zhou Zhanlong put the box on his shoulder and said, "Master, let's go in."

Xu Fan nodded and, walking in front, pushed open the wooden doors of the banquet hall and went straight in.

Inside, the hall was filled with guests, all of whom were nobility and wealthy elites. They were busy socializing and talking business and had not noticed the late arrival of Xu Fan and his company.

"Stop right there!"

"You three! Stop right there!"

It wasn't until a frantic scolding came from outside the door that everyone in the banquet hall ceased their conversations, with all eyes turning towards Xu Fan and his companions.

In the center of the hall, Ke Bancheng was conversing with a few friends. He seemed quite angry when he saw the bodyguards rushing in hurriedly.

But as soon as he saw clearly who they were chasing, his face, previously flushed with a ruddy glow, went instantly pale!

This... this guy...

How could he be alive?

"Ke Bancheng, to have such a grand occasion and not invite an old friend like me, that really seems quite inconsiderate, doesn't it?"

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