Ye Fan admitted that he was selfish, according to the butcher’s explanation, he was a jerk, which was true. In the past, to put an end to the past, he left without saying goodbye and became estranged from the butcher and Fire Phoenix, which was really not righteous.

Now, the butcher’s grievances are entirely understandable.

Ye Fan gladly accepted the butcher’s criticism, and naturally, he felt warm inside. This friendship that has endured life and death is priceless.

"Alright, don’t just stand there babbling, making a joke of yourself in front of the subordinates." Fire Phoenix saw the butcher had almost vented his anger, then spoke, "Let’s go, whatever needs to be said, we’ll sit down and talk slowly once we’re in the base."

"For Fire Phoenix’s sake, I’ll let you off for now, but I’ll come for you to settle the score later." The butcher said imposingly.

"Alright, whatever you say goes. Today, you’re the boss, whatever pleases you." Ye Fan said helplessly.

The butcher felt satisfied, but still furrowed his brows and reprimanded, "What? Seeing your unwilling expression, is this a joke to you?"

"Nothing of the sort!" Ye Fan said plainly, "I’ll host a drink for you, to apologize. Does that sound good?"

"No, I don’t drink, I’ve quit. I drink tea." The butcher said, feeling guilty.

Fire Phoenix teased, "I think you’re afraid you can’t outdrink Ye Fan, and after drinking, you’ll embarrass yourself, right? No worries, you’ve embarrassed yourself plenty in the past already, so what’s the big deal? I’ve even got plenty of your embarrassing little videos, such as you drinking water bent over a toilet..."

The butcher immediately glared, angrily cutting off Fire Phoenix from further tarnishing his ’glorious image,’ saying, "Stop it, please just stop it. Are you not happy unless you pick at my sores?"

"Actually, your embarrassing looks are quite cute." Fire Phoenix seriously remarked.

"Cute, my ass. Let the cute stuff die. I’m a man, and you’re calling me cute—are you just trying to disgust me?" The butcher was quite furious at Fire Phoenix’s description.

"We’ll drink tea, only tea, not alcohol." Ye Fan hurriedly mediated.

"That’s better." The butcher felt immensely satisfied inside, thoroughly enjoying this brotherly treatment using Ye Fan’s guilt.

Ye Fan, Fire Phoenix, and the butcher chatted as they walked towards the base.

Leng Mei, Hua Yue, Dais, Bell, and others followed at a certain distance, naturally catching earfuls of Ye Fan and the trio’s conversation.

"The relationship among the three leaders is truly extraordinary. This friendship is unparalleled." Bell sincerely marveled.

For Bell and the others, this was the first time seeing Ye Fan, Fire Phoenix, and the butcher together up close. Naturally, they felt thrilled. To him, Ye Fan and the others were indeed leaders.

"Absolutely, the friendship among the three leaders is forged through countless trials by fire and death." Dais remarked.

Leng Mei and Hua Yue were used to scenes like this; they were not like Bell and Dais, frequently witnessing the three noisy and bickering among themselves.

In the base, the group sat down one after another and still laid out alcohol, contrary to the butcher’s mention of tea.

"This drink is to our reunion." Ye Fan raised his glass, and everyone drank together.

"Didn’t we agree that after the butcher returns, we would take action against Sky Net?" Fire Phoenix drank a sip and then found it amusing, "At this rate, we’ll get drunk! Better to save this reunion drink for after we defeat Sky Net."

"Defeating Sky Net isn’t urgent; the reunion drink must be drunk, just drink a little less. As for the Sky Net affair, no rush; let’s finish this drink first, let Sky Net worry instead. Sky Net’s elders can’t predict whether they’ll face our hit, so while we’re drinking, they’re likely plotting hard. Now, let Sky Net’s elders worry; when we strike, Sky Net will surely have an unbreakable trap set. Then we can take all threats down at once, solving this inconvenience permanently." The butcher said without thinking.

"Alright, I won’t dampen the mood anymore, drink away as you wish." Fire Phoenix compromised.

"Big bro, aren’t you admitting you’re wrong? So, down three liters and then let’s compete in drinking? You did say you’d accept my punishment. This little request shouldn’t be a problem, right?" The butcher eyed Ye Fan maliciously; he was intent on getting Ye Fan drunk.

"Three liters, of alcohol!?"

"This is a small request?"

"Who could drink that much?"

"This is just unfair, right?"

Dais and Bell were dumbfounded, looking around with buzzing brains.

Leng Mei and Hua Yue stayed silent.

Fire Phoenix chuckled, looking cute as a spectator.

"Your request is rather unrighteous. You better take it easy, or you’ll have to answer to me." Ye Fan said mildly.

"Answer to me? I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m upright, not afraid of shadows. What would I fear?" The butcher said with confidence.

"You flirted with Mengyao in Zhuhai City and grabbed my disciple’s thigh, causing quite a scare. Thankfully you escaped quickly, or else if I knew it was you, I’d have painted your rear red already." Ye Fan coldly stated.

"Innocent, I’m innocent! This is baseless accusation, you’re wrongfully blaming me!" The butcher’s complexion changed drastically, defending immediately.

The butcher’s response seemed off. In the past, he would’ve been more concerned about his rear being painted given every bout with Ye Fan ended with such a result, he had no small shadow from it.

But now, he fiercely argued, yet his gaze fixated on Leng Mei, as if fearing her misunderstanding.

Leng Mei’s usually cold face became increasingly icy towards the butcher.

"Something’s off!"

"Something’s off?"

"What’s going on?"

Ye Fan and Fire Phoenix, feeling instinctively something was wrong, noticed there was something between the butcher and Leng Mei.

"When did this happen? Pretty tight security, even I didn’t know." Hua Yue curiously looked at Leng Mei.

Dais and Bell were the last to realize there was something between the butcher and Leng Mei.

"Don’t stare at me like that, I haven’t done anything against you."

"Really haven’t."

"You have to trust me."

"Moreover, I wouldn’t dare."

The butcher, feeling uncomfortable under Leng Mei’s gaze, threw caution to the wind and honestly said, "You must believe in my character. Don’t doubt my sincerity towards you just because you’ve put on your pants."