Wu Lin could only stare, his expression a mixture of surprise and shock.
Shen Tianhe walked up to Wang Xiao and spoke with a sincere tone:
"Brother Wang, my Tianhe Group was indeed in the wrong here. But as the saying goes, it's better to resolve grievances than to create enemies. I've brought this man, Kuang, here today specifically to offer you our apologies."
"This man, Kuang, was blind to a great man standing before him and surely offended you. Tell me how you want to deal with him. It's all up to you!"
Kuang Guanghua, standing to the side with beads of sweat forming on his forehead, gave Wang Xiao a ninety-degree bow.
"Mr. Wang, I was out of line earlier. My words were rash. Please, be the bigger man and don't lower yourself to my level."
The moment he returned to the company, he had immediately asked someone to reinvestigate Wang Xiao's personal information.
He wouldn't have known if he hadn't checked, but the results of the investigation were a huge shock.
Just yesterday, Wang Xiao had passed the evaluation to become a Tier Three Life.
And by extension, he had naturally become a Tier Three Citizen.
After receiving this information,
Kuang Guanghua had hastily reported it to the group's vice president, who in turn contacted the group's founder, Shen Tianhe.
Once Shen Tianhe understood the full story, he had immediately brought Kuang Guanghua here to offer a personal apology.
A Tier Three Life under the age of thirty was considered top-tier, even in places like Shanghai and the Capital City, where geniuses gathered.
His future potential was absolutely limitless!
This was certainly worth a Tier Four Citizen like Shen Tianhe swallowing his pride and coming to apologize in person.
If others hadn't been present, Kuang Guanghua would have probably dropped to his knees on the spot!
He was filled with a grievance he couldn't voice.
'Who in their right mind breaks through to Tier Three in a single day?!'
'This young man is far too good at hiding his strength.'
Wang Xiao's tone was calm. "Since President Shen came in person, I naturally won't pursue the matter. I just hope this won't happen again."
Although he was now a Tier Three Citizen, he was still no match for a local tyrant like Shen Tianhe, who had been entrenched in Dachang City for decades.
For a Tier Four Citizen like Shen Tianhe to personally come and apologize was already giving him more than enough face.
There was no need for him to press the issue further.
Upon hearing this, Shen Tianhe let out a hearty laugh.
"Brother Wang is indeed a straightforward man. No wonder you were able to pass the Tier Three Life evaluation at such a young age."
As he spoke, he looked at Kuang Guanghua. "What are you waiting for? Thank Brother Wang and present the apology gift!"
Kuang Guanghua hastily pulled a bank card from his pocket, held it with both hands, and presented it to Wang Xiao with a bow.
"Yes, thank you for your magnanimity, Mr. Wang. Otherwise, I would have been too ashamed to show my face. This is a gift from our Tianhe Group as a token of our apology. Please, you must accept it."
Shen Tianhe leaned in and whispered in Wang Xiao's ear:
"Brother Wang, there's thirty million in that card. Additionally, I'll be purchasing a villa for you in the city center. You can pick any style you like."
Wang Xiao looked at the bank card in Kuang Guanghua's hands but didn't take it. Instead, he said:
"This gift is too valuable. President Shen, this can't be just for an apology, can it?"
Thirty million was no small sum, even for a Tier Three Citizen.
After all, hunting a Tier Three Mutant Beast would only yield a total value of barely a million.
And that required a Tier Three Life to risk their life for it!
For Shen Tianhe to casually offer thirty million, plus a villa in the city center...
A more expensive villa in the center of Dachang City could cost fifty to sixty million, or even over a hundred million.
This had far exceeded the scope of a simple apology gift.
It was obvious that Shen Tianhe had ulterior motives.
Wang Xiao understood the principle that the most expensive things in life are free.
Therefore, Wang Xiao wouldn't accept it so easily.
Shen Tianhe chuckled. "Brother Wang, do you have some time right now? I opened a teahouse on Nanshan Road. They have freshly picked leaves from an Ancient Snow Tea Tree, and the flavor is exquisite. How about we go there for some tea?"
Wang Xiao replied, "My apologies, President Shen. I have a disciple cultivating in the backyard, and I may need to instruct her at any moment, so it's not convenient for me to leave. If you don't mind, President Shen, you're welcome to come in for a cup of tea."
"People still practice martial arts these days..." Shen Tianhe was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Alright, tea is tea no matter where you drink it. Since it's inconvenient for you, Brother Wang, we can talk here."
"President Shen, please, come in."
Wang Xiao gestured for him to enter.
Then, he turned to Wu Lin, who had been silent all this time, and said,
"Uncle, would you like to come in for a cup of tea too?"
Hearing Wang Xiao's voice, Wu Lin finally snapped out of his daze and swallowed hard.
"Uh, th-that is, I have to get back on duty. I won't disturb you. I'll come back later."
He then turned to Shen Tianhe and said,
"President Shen, Manager Kuang, please take your time. I'll be leaving now."
With that, he walked out of the Martial Arts Hall on unsteady feet.
The scene unfolding before him was simply too surreal!
The boss of Dachang City's largest construction group had personally come to his nephew's door to apologize.
It was simply unbelievable.
He knew that on a normal day, even his law enforcement team captain had to be polite to Kuang Guanghua, let alone Shen Tianhe!
This was the kind of person an ordinary man like him might never meet in his entire life.
And yet, such a figure was chatting and laughing with his nephew.
Also, Shen Tianhe had just said his nephew passed the evaluation for a Tier Three Life.
'What in the world is going on?!'
Too many questions swirled in Wu Lin's mind.
However, he knew this wasn't the time to ask.
'If I stay any longer, I'm bound to lose my composure. I'd better wait and ask my nephew for the details later.'
...
Inside the Martial Arts Hall's main hall,
Kuang Guanghua, ever observant, took the teapot and tea leaves and began respectfully brewing and pouring tea for Wang Xiao and Shen Tianhe.
Shen Tianhe sat on the sofa, surveying his surroundings. "Brother Wang, this Martial Arts Hall of yours has quite a retro feel. It must have been open for many years, right?"
Wang Xiao said, "It was passed down from my grandfather's generation. It should be over a hundred years old."
A hint of surprise appeared on Shen Tianhe's face. "Doesn't that mean it existed before the Great Cosmic Era? It certainly has a long history."
Wang Xiao replied, "I suppose so. I heard from my grandfather that this World Martial Arts Hall used to be very popular, but after the Great Cosmic Era began, it gradually fell into decline."
Shen Tianhe subtly revealed his purpose. "It's a real shame for a century-old martial arts hall to decline like this. Has Brother Wang considered moving to a new location? If you were to open in the city center, you could probably attract a lot more students."
Wang Xiao frowned. "President Shen, are you still planning to demolish my Martial Arts Hall?"
Shen Tianhe couldn't help but say, "Brother Wang, I won't hide it from you. I plan to redevelop this neighborhood with Zhongshan North Road as the center, turning it into the largest commercial and cultural hub in our Dachang City. This is tied to the future plans of our Tianhe Group."
"When that time comes, leaving your Martial Arts Hall here will make it stick out like a sore thumb."
"So, I hope Brother Wang can understand my predicament."
"Whatever requests you have, Brother Wang, feel free to name them. As long as it's within my power, I won't even bat an eye."
The purpose of his trip here was precisely to discuss this matter with Wang Xiao.
In truth, if Wang Xiao were just an ordinary Tier Three Citizen, his attitude wouldn't have been nearly this friendly.
Offering money and a villa...
After all, he had quite a few Tier Three Lives and Tier Three Citizens working under him.
But Wang Xiao was different. Becoming a Tier Three Life before the age of thirty meant his potential was enormous.
In the future, it was highly likely he would break through to become a Tier Four Life!
A person like that was worthy of Shen Tianhe's attention.
Wang Xiao's brow furrowed, and he was just about to speak,
when Qin Mengyun walked into the main hall from the backyard, dressed in training clothes.
She glanced at Wang Xiao and couldn't help but ask, "Master, are you in a meeting?"
To the side, Shen Tianhe saw Qin Mengyun, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
He had naturally recognized Qin Mengyun at a glance.
This was the Young Miss of the Shanghai Qin Family!
Although Qin Mengyun was from a side branch of the family, her outstanding talent made her even more favored by the Qin Family's old Patriarch than some from the Direct Lineage.
She had a chance to compete for the position of the Qin Family Patriarch in the future.
For such a person to appear in the World Martial Arts Hall...
And to call Wang Xiao 'Master'?!
Shen Tianhe felt like his brain was short-circuiting.