《Urban God of War: The Live-in Son-in-law》


 Chapter 1 - 1 The Dragon in Shallow Waters is Teased by Shrimps

    <h4>Chapter 1: Chapter 1 The Dragon in Shallow Waters is Teased by Shrimps</h4>


    "Grandfather, what are you saying, asking me to marry a dying cripple?"


    A shrill cry suddenly echoed through the Hong Family''s great hall as Hong Yuting''s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at her own grandfather.


    Despite thete hour, the sprawling estate of the Hong Family of Jiangdu, spanning thousands of square meters, was still brightly lit with all members of the direct lineage of the Hong Family gathered there.


    The helmsman of the Hongtian Group had called everyone together tonight for one reason only, to announce that his granddaughter was to marry a man who was gravely injured, bedridden, and possibly even on the verge of death!


    "Father, what exactly is going on? We haven''t even met this man, who is grievously injured and bedridden, and now you want Yu Ting to marry him¡ªsurely this is preposterous?"


    The eldest son, Hong Tianming, was also filled with shock and confusion.


    Half a month ago, everyone only knew that Old Master Hong had brought back a person, a man covered in blood.


    Over this half-month, Old Master Hong had devoted all his attention to this man.


    After all, Old Master Hong was over seventy; when the family couldn''t stand by and offered to help,


    they were met with the edict that no one was to enter the inner courtyard, let alone visit that man, or they would be immediately expelled from the family, with serious offenders even facing on-the-spot execution!


    Master Hong, a former soldier, had extremely strict household rules that no one dared to contravene.


    Thus, during this time, confusion had filled everyone''s hearts.


    Yet, to everyone''s utmost surprise, tonight Old Master Hong had suddenly dered that his granddaughter was to marry a man she had never met, one who might even be dying.


    It was simply preposterous!


    "Father, who exactly is this man, and what is his background? You can''t possibly expect Ting''er to marry him for no reason at all?"


    Hong Tianming''s wife spoke out, the news striking them like a bolt from the blue.


    Although Old Master Hong was over seventy, his body was still quite robust; and, having been a soldier, he stood spear-straight in the center of the great hall.


    "Regarding his origins, I cannot tell you, and there is no room for negotiation on this matter!"


    Old Master Hong Zhenguo, with eyes radiatingmanding authority, red at his granddaughter Hong Yuting and enunciated every word, "But what I can tell you is that marrying him, whether he is a cripple or on the cusp of death, is going to be the honor of your lifetime!"


    "I can''t possibly marry him!"


    Hong Yuting roared: "Grandfather, have you gone mad? To marry me off to some invalid or to a man who''s nearly dead, for no reason?"


    "After all, I am the belle of Jiangdu, aughingstock¡ªa huge joke indeed!"


    Hong Tianming''s wife also said, "Yu Ting has everything going for her; to make her marry such a man would be a waste, this..."


    Old Master Hong''s eyebrows arched, a sure sign he was about to lose his temper.


    Just then, a timid voice echoed in the hall, "Grandfather, if possible, let me marry him?"


    Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and immediately saw a fragile girl in a corner.


    With a pale, oval face, she seemed to have exhausted all her energy just by speaking that sentence and had to support herself on a chair to prevent falling.


    "Right, let Qingyan marry him, even though she was picked up by the family, she''s still half a granddaughter of Grandfather''s; it''s the same if she marries him." Hong Yuting seemed to have grabbed onto a lifesaving straw.


    "Indeed, indeed, Qingyan would do, after all, she is still your granddaughter!"


    Hong Tianming''s wife nodded vigorously, anyhow, her daughter could not marry, especially not a grievously injured cripple on the verge of death!


    Hong Zhenguo looked over with aplicated expression in his eyes, "Are you willing to marry him?"


    Hong Qingyan nodded: "My life was saved by Grandfather; although I don''t understand why you wish to do this, it is evident that Grandfather has encountered difficulties, and I should share the burden."


    Having spoken these words, Hong Qingyan began to cough incessantly, her paleplexion suddenly flushing with red, her frail body looking as if it might copse at any moment.


    "You are a good child..."


    Master Hong sighed and said, "Although your health is not good, your fate is very lucky!"


    "Come with me!" Master Hong motioned, turned around, and walked into the Inner Courtyard, with Hong Qingyan struggling to keep up.


    As Old Master Hong''s figure disappeared, the entire hall instantly erupted into chaos.


    "Everyone, discuss, what on earth is going on? For no reason at all, why would the Old Master suddenly, make such an absurd request?"


    "The Old Master must be out of his mind, right? If not, he must have been bewitched by someone?"


    "The Old Master couldn''t possibly be insane, at least he didn''t seem insane just now, so it''s likely that the problem lies with, the man he brought back!"


    "Right, who exactly is that man?"


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    Nobody in the hall could answer this question. Of course, despite their curiosity, nobody dared to venture into the backyard to snoop around.


    Because by now, there were a full eight bodyguards stationed in the backyard, and Old Master Hong hadmanded that without his permission, any trespasser was to be killed or maimed on the spot!


    Passing the eight impressive bodyguards, Hong Qingyan arrived at a small loft at the very back, which was where Master Hong usually resided.


    Propping herself up on the stair rail, it took all the strength of this frail woman to climb up to the second floor.


    In the moment she pushed the door open, she saw someone, or more precisely, a pair of eyes, eyes so stunning and unforgettable that they would be etched in her memory forever.


    Pale and calm, a firm resolve in the tranquility, a fierce resentment shining through that resolve, with a sharpness mixed into the resentment!


    And even within that sharpness was a dense bloodthirst!


    Hong Qingyan swore that she had never in her life seen, a person''s eyes that could convey, suchplex and varied emotions.


    The man in the room was wrapped tightly in white bandages like a mummy, lying t on the bed, his eyes not blinking and staring at the ceiling.


    Master Hong cried out in rm, "Good heavens, you''re awake, you''re finally awake!"


    Before he had even finished speaking, Hong Qingyan saw another scene that shocked her profoundly¡ªher grandfather actually rushed over and knelt directly in front of the bed, his entire being overflowing with tears.


    Hong Qingyan was truly terrified inside!


    Who on earth was this man?


    "How are you feeling now? Any better? Do you have any instructions? Justmand me!" Master Hong fired off a series of questions in rapid session.


    The man on the bed, still with his eyes fixed on the ceiling and not turning around, suddenly, his throat slowly emitted two words.


    "Phone!"


    Master Hong was startled before he reacted, hurriedly pulling out a cell phone from his pocket but then thinking better of it, he took out another phone from the bedside cab.


    "This phone is custom-made for the military, not easy to be traced!" he said, passing the phone over.


    "Put it down, leave!" The man''s throat let out a gruff four words; although brief, they carried an impressive air of authority, conveying an undeniablemand.


    "Yes, yes!" Master Hong nodded repeatedly, his face still unable to conceal his excitement and joy; he immediately turned and pulled Hong Qingyan out of the room, closing the door behind them as they left.


    Throughout the entire process, Hong Qingyan was lost in bewilderment. All these signs were beyond herprehension. The man on the bed, clearly wounded and wrapped up like a rice dumpling, his injuries very severe.


    Yet his eyes remained so eerily calm and piercing, even exuding a chill and bloodlust.


    And his words, though few, were allmands, each one spoken with an authoritative and imperious tone.


    Yet her grandfather reacted with ecstasy, even disying a sense of reverence!


    Who on earth was this man?

 Chapter 2 - 2 He is a King

    <h4>Chapter 2: Chapter 2 He is a King</h4>


    The attic was silent, allowing the sound of footsteps descending the stairs outside to be heard clearly.


    The man on the bed gazed at the ceiling in a daze for a half quarter hour before his fingers slowly began to move.


    His cell phone was right beside him, and after fumbling for quite a while, he dialed a long string of strange numbers.


    Once the call connected, a thick masculine voice came from the other end, "Hello, who is this?"


    "It''s me!" Ye Feng''s voice came from his throat, deep and low.


    "King... my lord, is that you?"


    A brief pause ensued on the other end of the line, followed by an overwhelmed and joyous query, "Thank heavens, my lord, you are still alive, you''re still alive!"


    Moving his Adam''s apple, Ye Feng said with difficulty, "How is the Northern Border now?"


    "Reporting to my lord, the Northern Border is inplete chaos right now. After your incident, the Northern Border was left without a leader, and the whole army fell into disorder. It turns out that the Mountain Eagle organization has always been the pawn of some powerful figures in the Imperial Capital!"


    The man on the phone hesitated slightly, then continued, "The day after your incident, the Imperial Capital sent the Iron Armor Army saying they were ordered to take over the Northern Border Army. Gai Jiutian, the Chief Legion Commander, wielding his ck Blood Sword, ughtered this Iron Armor Army. That battle stirred the Blood Qi within him, forcing him to seal himself in the Cold Pool!"


    "Leng Wuming, themander of the Second Legion, sensing that the Mountain Eagle was going to strike at the legion, took the initiative to strike, killing several assassins code-named ''Heaven'' from the Mountain Eagle, but he himself was severely injured and lost an arm!"


    "After losing his arm, Commander Leng Wuming retreated to the mountains for cultivation, saying he would wait for my lord''s return, to continue following you and conquer the world!"


    There was a brief silence on the phone, and Ye Feng asked, "Has anyone betrayed us?"


    "The Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Legions have now gone to the Imperial Capital to pledge their loyalty!"


    As the saying goes, adversity reveals true colors, and these words were indeed not the slightest bit false.


    Full of resentment, the man on the phone said, "During this time, I and several other legionmanders have been searching for you. We have always believed that you, my lord, could not have been so easily killed. Heaven truly has eyes!"


    "By the way, my lord, where are you now? I wille to find you immediately!"


    "No need, lie low, await my return!"


    Ye Feng''s body was covered in wounds and speaking was arduous. He could only produce sounds from his throat, his voice hoarse and deep. His tone was full of uncontroble anger.


    "As youmand, my lord. However, with you gravely injured and out there, I cannot rest easy. I am not in a position to show myself during this time, so I will send a top-secret guard to you..."


    Before the man could finish, the phone line went dead with a beep-beep busy signal.


    The indifferent eyes returned to the ceiling as the attic regained its silence. However, beneath that silence surged the towering rage in Ye Feng''s heart.


    How many loyal and brave soldiers of the Northern Border Army had wrapped themselves in horsehide to die in foreignnds, guarding the Eternal Rivers and Mountains with their lives.


    Yet those so-called National Schrs of the Imperial Capital, for their selfish gains, harmed the loyal and good, disregarding the safety of the nation.


    The just-battle-scarred Northern Border Legion had hardly returned home, even before their wounds had healed, when they were plunged into a conspiracy for a power struggle in the Imperial Capital.


    Under the guise of offering awards, the Imperial Capital lured Ye Feng to the Capital Region, only to set up a shocking ambush outside the Capital.


    "Mountain Eagle, once my injuries heal, I will uproot youpletely!"


    "Imperial Capital, petty officials, the day of my return will be the day of your doom!" Ye Feng roared in his heart.


    In that battle, facing the Eight Protectors of the Mountain Eagle and the Eighteen Strongest of the Imperial Capital, he was outnumbered and had seventy-two bones broken.


    Fighting through severe injuries, he traveled southward, fleeing a thousand miles to Jiangdu, the ce where he grew up.


    Perhaps it was not his time to die; he encountered the former captain of his guard team when he was still amander ten years ago, now known as Old Master Hong Zhenguo.


    Ye Feng slowly closed his eyes, took a long breath out, and then inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling in a regr pattern with each breath.


    Gradually, a mist visible to the naked eye gathered and entered his body, healing his wounds.


    The night deepened, the surroundings hushed, and outside the attic, Old Master Hong stood ramrod straight, while Hong Qingyan stood beside him, not daring to make a sound.


    Despite being full of questions and curiosity, she dared not ask if her grandfather did not speak.


    Eventually, Hong Qingyan could no longer restrain herself, "Grandfather, he''s so badly injured, why don''t we send him to the hospital?"


    "It''s not convenient!"


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    "Even if it''s not convenient, shouldn''t we at least have a doctore to see him?"


    "No need!"


    Hong Zhenguo''s tone was short and forceful, havingmanded a certain authority in the army, he had cultivated an imposing bearing.


    Hong Qingyan could only remain silent.


    Hong Zhenguo nced at his granddaughter and feltpelled to exin, "His identity is rather special, and before he lost consciousness, he had instructed not to go to the hospital or see a doctor."


    "But..."


    "Alright Qing''er, grandfather knows you''re full of confusion, but now is not the time to ask. The reason I want you to marry him is out of consideration for safety and trust. Your task for the time being is to take good care of him with all your heart. Do you understand?"


    "Yes, grandfather," Hong Qingyan lowered her head and replied.


    Hong Zhenguo patted his granddaughter''s head and smiled, "Although you were abandoned by your parents, heaven has shown you mercy. You probably don''t realize it, but you''ve made such a right decision tonight."


    "Grandfather''s painstaking efforts, you will understand in the future."


    Just then, a faint shout came from the attic above, "Someonee!"


    Hearing these two words, Hong Zhenguo reacted as if he had heard an imperial edict, swooshing up in a sh, with Hong Qingyan reluctantly climbing up step by step.


    "Your..." Hong Zhenguo started to speak but suddenly realized his mistake and quickly changed his words, "Do you have any orders?"


    "Water!" Ye Feng on the bed said just one word.


    "Yes, I''ll prepare it right away!" Hong Zhenguo was excited. If he wanted to drink water, it meant there were signs of improvement in his condition.


    "We have a Millennium Ginseng at home, I''ll use it to brew some ginseng water now. It should be beneficial for you."


    Hong Zhenguo scurried away, the Old Master of the Hong Family, the helmsman of Jiangdu''s Hongtian Group, at this moment resembled a servant.


    The Millennium Ginseng water was quickly prepared, and Hong Zhenguo handed the bowl to Hong Qingyan, "Qing''er, you feed him, be careful!"


    Hong Qingyan took the bowl, picked up the spoon, and slowly fed him spoon by spoon.


    Yet throughout the process, the man on the bed, his eyes neither blinking nor straying from staring at the ceiling, not only failed to utter a word of thanks but didn''t even nce at her.


    Hong Qingyan couldn''t help feeling annoyed. She might be weak, but she was certainly not ugly. In fact, she was considered a beauty in Jiangdu.


    But the man on the bed was utterly ignoring her!


    Hong Zhenguoughed as he rified on the side, "I forgot to introduce her, this is my granddaughter Hong Qingyan. From now on, she is yours, someone you can absolutely trust. Rest assured on this point!"


    Ye Feng on the bed did not utter a sound, his gaze still fixed on the ceiling. After a long while, he finally said, "That''s enough, I need to rest."


    "Yes!" Hong Zhenguo nodded, fully intent on executing every word.


    As he reached the door, Hong Zhenguo turned back, "By the way, out of trust and for convenience in caretaking, I have taken the liberty of betrothing Qingyan to you."


    "She will be taking care of you and staying by your side during this period, please do not take offense!"


    Ye Feng had slowly closed his eyes, entering into a rhythmic pattern of breathing.

 Chapter 3: The Most Beautiful Woman in Jiangdu

    <h4>Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Most Beautiful Woman in Jiangdu</h4>


    "What did you say, Old Master Hong has cooked the Millennium Ginseng just for that person''s treatment?"


    "He''s gone mad,pletely mad, that old man. The Millennium Ginseng is our family heirloom, a treasure of incalcble value, and he said to cook it just like that?"


    "This is simply foolishness; I bet the old man''s been bewitched; he''s lost his mind!"


    "This can''t go on, let''s go. Today we must see that person, no matter what!"


    In the Hong Family''s main hall, everyone was talking at once, filled with frustration as they rushed toward the Inner Courtyard.


    But upon arriving at the Inner Courtyard and seeing the eight imposing bodyguards standing tall, they immediately lost their nerve.


    "You try it; I don''t believe Old Master Hong really dares to have us beaten to death or crippled!"


    "You go then, I really don''t dare to..."


    Just then, the door on the second floor of the loft inside suddenly creaked open.


    And then everyone saw Old Master Hong wheeling out in a wheelchair, with Hong Qingyan behind, pushing. Just like that, the two of them slowly moved the wheelchair down.


    In the wheelchair sat a man who actually wasn''t old, seeming to be only about twenty-four or twenty-five.


    With a square face, harsh, sharp-angr features, scruffy facial hair, he couldn''t be called handsome, but he was unique, especially his eyes. At first nce, they seemed calm, but upon closer inspection, they were like a knife.


    A sharpened knife, keen and cutting, as if a single re from him could slice a wound in your heart, chilling to behold.


    The previously noisy crowd immediately fell silent.


    Hong Qingyan pushed the wheelchair slowly toward them, moving at a snail''s pace, having nearly exhausted all her strength just getting down the stairs.


    As the wheelchair was pushed past, the man in the wheelchair didn''t once look at the people around him. His gaze remained fixed in the distance, seemingly regarding these members of the Hong Family as nothing more than air.


    Hong Tianming finally couldn''t hold back and asked, "Father, is this the person?"


    "Indeed, it is him!" Hong Zhenguo smiled, looking very pleased.


    For a full month, the man''s injuries had finally shown initial signs of improvement. Today, for the first time, he proposed taking a walk, which made him very happy.


    "Grandfather, who exactly is this man?" Hong Tianming''s son, Hong Wei, asked.


    Hong Zhenguo''s expression darkened, and he was about to erupt in anger.


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    Hong Yuting rolled her eyes and said, "Who cares who he is, what''s it got to do with us? I thought he was going to be someone with three heads and six arms, but now it seems he''s nothing special!"


    "Most importantly, he''s disabled!"


    Hong Wei chimed in, "Exactly, it''s a good thing Sister didn''t marry him. Otherwise, marrying a cripple, her whole life would be ruined."


    "Marry him? He doesn''t deserve..."


    p!


    Before Hong Yuting could finish her sentence, Old Master Hong had pped her across the face.


    "Grandfather, you... You actually hit me!"


    Hong Yuting, her cheek swelling red, howled, "For an outsider, for a cripple, you hit me? I am your granddaughter, the celebrated beauty of Jiangdu, you..."


    "Shut your mouth, you ignorant thing!" Old Master Hong roared in anger, his foot stomping the ground as he hurriedly followed the wheelchair ahead.


    "Mom, I can''t live like this, I don''t want to live anymore!"


    Hong Yuting immediately began weeping bitterly, screeching, "This old fool, what madness has he got into, first forcing me to marry an outsider, a cripple, and now striking me for this cripple!"


    Hong Tianming said in a grave voice, "Father has really acted inappropriately this time!"


    "More than inappropriate, he''spletely lost his mind. Yu Ting is the cherished daughter of our Hong Family, destined to marry into a wealthy family; how could she possibly marry a cripple!"


    Old Master Hong''s eldest daughter, also known as Hong Yuting''s aunt, was equally resentful.


    "Thank goodness Hong Qingyan stepped in to rece our Ting''er, otherwise who knows what sort of madness that old thing would have gotten up to!" Hong Tianming''s wife, Zhang Yuman, sneered.


    "Hong Qingyan was, after all, picked up by our Hong Family, and she should rightfully share our burdens!" dered Hong Wei.


    "This picked-up bastard, who''s also a cripple, ame woman marrying a disabled man, is quite well-matched!"


    Hong Yuting clenched her teeth in anger, her eyes filled with fury and venom.


    Hong Tianming waved his hand, "Alright, everyone go back for now. This man is mysterious, and I reckon the Old Master has been bewitched. We must have him investigated."


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng had been wheeled out of the Inner Courtyard by Hong Qingyan. His hearing, far superior to that of ordinary people, had caught every word of the conversation.


    It was at that moment Ye Feng noticed that Hong Qingyan''s foot wasme.


    "Your foot?" Ye Feng suddenly spoke up.


    Hong Qingyan was startled, as this was the first time in half a month that the man had initiated a question to her.


    "It''s nothing." Hong Qingyan smiled, pushing the wheelchair forcefully with her left foot stepping forward first, and then her other foot slowly catching up.


    Passing through a long corridor, they arrived at ake as calm as a mirror. A spring breeze brushed by, and the afternoon sunlight felt indescribablyfortable on their skin.


    Ye Feng squinted his eyes and gazed into the distance, suddenly asking, "I heard your grandfather has promised you to me, what are your thoughts on this?"


    Hong Qingyan hesitated before replying, "I will listen to my grandfather."


    "Even if I am disabled now, are you still willing?" Ye Feng asked again.


    He usually didn''t talk much, perhaps because he''d been bedridden for so long. It was rare for him to get some fresh air today, and the good weather may have prompted him to ask a few more questions.


    "You''re disabled, and I''m a cripple as well." Hong Qingyan smiled, but it was a bitter smile.


    Ye Feng noticed and said, "I want to thank you for this time."


    Hong Qingyan smiled radiantly, "To think you, of all people, would say thank you. I thought..."


    But before she could finish, Ye Feng had already turned his head to gaze at the tranquilke ahead of them.


    The scene fell silent. With him not speaking, she naturally didn''t dare say more, simply observing his face quietly from the side.


    At first nce, his face seemed unremarkable, but matched with those eyes, it became extremely sharp, as if piercing through everything. Sometimes his indifference felt as though he disregarded everything.


    Especially during this past half-month, Hong Qingyan had been bathing him daily, seeing the dense scars all over his body.


    She could never have imagined that one person could carry so many scars.


    She remembered, when she was very young, her grandfather once made an offhand remark, saying that for soldiers, the scars on their bodies are their highest honors.


    Then the countless, striking scars on this man''s body, just how much honor had he rued in his life!


    Ye Feng suddenly looked back and asked, "What''s your name?"


    Hong Qingyan was taken aback and blurted out, "Didn''t my grandfather already tell you my name a long time ago?"


    "I wasn''t paying attention."


    "Alright then, my name is Hong Qingyan." She said, pursing her lips, feeling somewhat annoyed inside.


    In this half month, she had bathed him almost daily, carefully fed him Millennium Ginseng and bird''s nest porridge, and had taken care of him so meticulously that she was practically half his fianc¨¦e already.


    And yet, he couldn''t even remember her name!


    Ye Feng said, "Right, my name is Ye Feng. The Ye of Ye Feng, the Feng of Ye Feng."


    "..." Hong Qingyan rolled her eyes.

 Chapter 4 - 4 Unwanted Son-in-law Comes Knocking

    <h4>Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Unwanted Son-inw Comes Knocking</h4>


    The night was deep and tranquil, bathed in moonlight that flowed like water.


    In the Hong Family''s inner courtyard, Ye Feng sat alone in his wheelchair.


    As instructed, Hong Qingyan had gone to the front courtyard to prepare a simple vegetarian dinner.


    If one looked closely, they could see Ye Feng''s chest rising and falling rhythmically.


    Holding his breath, his eyes were intently fixed on a leaf the size of a thumb, ten meters away.


    Suddenly, with a whoosh, Ye Feng opened his mouth and exhaled a breath.


    The breath turned into an arrow, flying straight out and piercing a hole through the leaf ten meters away.


    "Thankfully, my power hasn''t been wasted; at least I have some self-protective strength!" Ye Feng sighed to himself.


    Just then, a whooshing sound pierced the darkness, and a shadowy figure entered, flipping over the wall like a nimble monkey.


    "Who''s there?" Ye Feng called out coldly, about to exhale forcefully.


    "Greetings, my lord!" Before the person in ck could finish speaking, he was already kneeling on the ground.


    Ye Feng suppressed his breath, his gaze sharp as a knife, "Who are you, and who sent you here?"


    The person in ck knelt there, head lowered, and said, "Lord Mu, he ordered me toe!"


    "He sent you?" Ye Feng''s frown rxed.


    If there was anyone in this world he could still trust, that person was Mu Tian.


    Having woken up half a month ago, the first person Ye Feng had called was him.


    The two wererades who had shared life-and-death experiences for many years, bound by a friendship sealed through trials of fire!


    He remembered that at the time, Mu Tian said he would send a secret bodyguard over, who must be this person.


    "Stand up and speak!"


    "Yes, sir!" The person obeyed and stood up, tall and burly, his movements rigid and precise, appearing somewhat stiff, yet he exuded an imposing aura.


    Ye Feng didn''t inquire about this person''s specific origins, because knowing he was sent by Mu Tian was already enough.


    "What''s your name?" Ye Feng asked.


    "I have no name, sir, but from now on you may call me Seventeen." Seventeen stood there with his head bowed, speaking without any movement in his body, every nerve taut.


    He resembled a tiger or leopard, a ferocious beast seemingly ready to pounce and kill at any moment!


    Ye Feng could tell just from this that the man had undergone rigorous training and was part of the Mu Tian Guard, subjected to the most severe Demonic Training.


    Suddenly, Seventeen saluted and bowed, "My life, from now on, belongs to my lord. I may die, but my lord must live. If my lord dies, I shall not live alone!"


    Ye Feng, with his piercing eyes, stared at the man without speaking, deep in thought.


    It made sense for Mu Tian to have tracked him down through his phone number, as this was one of Mu Tian''s strengths.


    What truly astonished Ye Feng was that the so-called secret bodyguards cultivated by Mu Tian seemed to have evolved beyond mere protectors and could almost be called Death Warriors.


    If there were only one or two of these Death Warriors, the issue wouldn''t be significant, but if there were many...


    At that moment, a peculiar set of footsteps suddenly interrupted Ye Feng''s train of thought.


    These footsteps started with a step forward, followed by a long dragging sound.


    It was the distinctive sound of Hong Qingyan''s steps, the gait of someone with a limp.


    Hong Qingyan, carrying an exquisitely crafted food box, turned to enter the inner courtyard.


    Seeing a stranger standing behind Ye Feng, she was momentarily taken aback, but she asked nothing.


    In recent times, her grandfather had repeatedly instructed her not to ask anything about Ye Feng, telling her that her sole responsibility was to take good care of him with all her heart.


    "Big Brother Ye, this is the dinner you asked for." Hong Qingyan shook the food box in her hand.


    Ye Feng nodded slightly, intending to return to the attic, but his astonishingly sharp hearing caught the noisymotioning from the front courtyard.


    "Qingyan, why is it so noisy in the front courtyard?"


    "Today is Grandpa''s seventieth birthday, and quite a few guests have arrived, so it''s be a bit noisy."


    "Old Master Hong''s seventieth birthday?"


    Ye Feng was startled, and then asked, "Then why aren''t you going over there?"


    Hong Qingyan replied, "Because Grandpa wants me to stay here to take care of you..."


    Despite her efforts to seem nonchnt, her tone revealed a hint of sourness.


    After all, Hong Qingyan was still a young girl, and as Grandpa had taken her in, she owed him a debt of gratitude. On Grandpa''s seventieth birthday celebration, how could she not wish to go there and offer a bow and some blessings?


    Ye Feng could see this and waved his hand, saying, "Come on, push me there."


    "Push you there, to where?" Hong Qingyan didn''t catch on for a moment.


    "To the front courtyard!"


    "Alright!" Hong Qingyan was immediately overjoyed.


    They passed through a tree-lined corridor, turned by a few vis, and then arrived at the front courtyard.


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    Through three generations of management, the Hong Family had be well-known in the Jiangdu business circles, and under Old Master Hong''s generation, they had almost be one of Jiangdu''s wealthy ns.


    Given that today was Old Master Hong''s seventieth birthday, the guestsing to congratte him were naturally endless.


    The main hall in the front courtyard where guests were received was brilliantly lit, and the sound of toasting and merry-making was unceasing.


    Just as Hong Qingyan was about to push Ye Feng inside, Hong Yuting and Hong Wei led several people into the courtyard withughter and conversation.


    Several young people were dressed invish attire; it appeared they were all scions of well-known families in the Jiangdu business circles.


    "Yo, yo, yo, I thought it was someone special, but it turns out to be our Second Miss. How about it, nning to take your disabled fianc¨¦ out tonight for a bit of socializing, to wish Grandpa happy birthday as well?"


    Hong Yuting walked over, emphasizing the word ''disabled'' heavily, with a mocking look on her face.


    Hong Qingyan wanted to retort, but anger coupled with her frailty made her cough repeatedly and unable to speak.


    A tall man in a white suit among the attendants eximed in astonishment, "What''s with you, Yuting, this person, this disabled man on the wheelchair, is Miss Qingyan''s fianc¨¦?"


    "Isn''t it? Grandpa himself decided!"


    Hong Yuting became even more smug, lifting the corners of her mouth andughing, "Ame girl marrying a cripple, it''s indeed a perfect match made by fate!"


    The man in the white suit sighed, "Even though the Second Miss naturally has her defects, she''s pretty and also considered half a granddaughter of Old Master Hong. It''s beneath her to be matched with a disabled son-inw, isn''t it?"


    A few young men and women apanying them also said, "The Hong family is a wealthy house. As long as Old Master Hong gives the word, those second- and third-tier family disciples in Jiangdu would probably break their heads in a scramble to marry Hong Qingyan for an alliance."


    "Now that Old Master Hong has picked such a crippled son-inw, isn''t he just inviting ridicule for no reason?"


    "I really don''t understand what Old Master Hong is thinking. Even if this granddaughter was adopted, that''s no reason to mistreat and wrong her like this. If it were me, I''d never agree to it, even over my dead body!"


    "After tonight, this crippled son-inw of the Hong family will probably be Jiangdu''sughingstock!"


    The crowdughed and joked, not taking Ye Feng into consideration at all, especially the man in the white suit, whose tone seemed especially harsh as if he was trying to curry favor with Hong Yuting.


    "It''s a good thing you didn''t agree to marry this cripple, Yuting; otherwise, you would have ruined your life!"


    "Marry him? As if he''s worthy of marrying a flower of Jiangdu!" Hong Yuting said, full of disdain.


    Throughout this period, Ye Feng just watched coldly and said nothing.


    And since he didn''t move, Seventeen, who stood behind him, didn''t move either!

 Chapter 5 - 5 He Moved My Wheelchair

    <h4>Chapter 5: Chapter 5 He Moved My Wheelchair</h4>


    ```


    Looking at Ye Feng in the wheelchair, Hong Yuting felt a surge of vile courage,st time her grandfather not only demanded of her to marry this crippled man but even pped her in public because of this cripple.


    She had never suffered such humiliation in all her life.


    "You cripple, and you, theme bastard picked up from the streets, what are you still doing standing there, get lost, get the hell out of here now!"


    Hong Yuting roared furiously, "A cripple and ame one at that, insist on making a fool of themselves in public. If you don''t feel ashamed for yourselves, you''ve lost all the face of our Hong Family!"


    Eldest Grandson Hongwei stepped forward and pointed at Ye Feng''s nose, spelling out each word, "Listen well, dogs and cripples are not allowed inside the gates of the Hong Family!"


    Ye Feng looked at him coldly, suddenly wanting tough in his heart. When had he, the Northern Border King, been stopped outside someone''s door?


    In the past, not to mention this little Jiangdu business tycoon, even the nobles in the imperial city would tremble with fear when they heard he wasing to visit, personally sweeping the floor and weing him at the door.


    "Listen well, no one in this world dares to block my way. Get lost right away, out of consideration for Old Master Hong, I won''t hold you ountable!"


    Ye Feng spoke calmly, for in his eyes, the likes of arrogant scions like Hongwei were no more than crawling ants.


    To quibble with ants would only demean himself unnecessarily!


    Hongwei immediately flew into rage, "Who the hell do you think you are, demanding that I, the young master, to get lost?"


    "You two,e here and throw this cripple out!"


    The two security guards naturally recognized the young master of the Hong Family and stepped forward without a second word.


    Ye Feng remained unppable as before; these people, like ants, were beneath his notice to even lift a hand.


    Just as the two security guards grabbed the wheelchair and tried to throw it out...


    "How dare you!"


    Seventeen moved, his tall frame pouncing like a fierce tiger.


    With two bangs, the two security guards were sent flying out three meters.


    Themotion outside immediately rmed the people in the hall. Master Hong walked out with the stride of a tiger, followed by a charming youth around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Grandpa, this cripple, he started a fight!" screamed Hong Yuting on the spot.


    "Nonsense, it was clearly you who blocked the way and even tried to throw Big Brother Ye out. Big Brother Ye was forced to strike back in self-defense!"


    Hong Qingyan argued, only disputing when her grandfather was present because it was the only time arguing could be effective.


    Hongwei shouted angrily, "Shut up, you wild seed, it''s none of your business to speak here!"


    "The one who needs to shut up is you!"


    Old Master Hong''s eyebrows shot up in fury as he pointed at Hongwei, "You dog, Mr. Ye is a distinguished guest. Not only did you obstruct him, but you also dared to throw him out. Have you lost your mind?"


    Saying this, he raised his hand to p him.


    The young man behind him quickly stepped forward and said, "Chairman, today is your seventieth birthday, and the guests are watching. Doing this would be beneath your dignity."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Master Hong thought it over and felt it made sense, so he lowered his hand and turned to Ye Feng with a smile, "I''m really sorry, Mr. Ye, I didn''t know you wereing over, or I would have personally invited you."


    Ye Feng said, "No problem, I just came on a whim, mainly to apany Qingyan."


    Master Hong nced at Hong Qingyan and asked, "How are you doing, did that ignorant servant harm you just now?"


    Ye Feng looked up at him and countered, "Do you think, with just those two, they could harm me?"


    Upon hearing this, Master Hong burst into heartyughter.


    ```


    ```


    However, Ye Feng suddenly added, "But, they just touched my wheelchair."


    Old Master Hong''sughter ceased abruptly, and he flung his hand, "Bring someone, throw those two security guards out, break both their hands, pay them triple the Settlement Fee, and let them get lost!"


    Afterward, the old master walked over, personally pushed the wheelchair, and slowly entered the hall.


    The guests in the hall had already noticed themotion outside and were now stunned to see Old Master Hong personally pushing a young man in, one by one.


    And the handsome young man who had been following behind Hong Zhenguo looked at Ye Feng''s back, his face slowly showing an intriguing expression.


    "Unbelievable, truly unbelievable, what''s gotten into your old master? Is he possessed? Or has he been bewitched?" A few wealthy young masters outside eximed in amazement.


    "Damn it, this cripple, what''s so special about him? Even if he married Hong Qingyan, he is still just, a son-inw who joined our Hong Family. Why would grandfather treat him like that?" Zhangsun Hongwei roared angrily.


    Hong Yuting clenched her teeth and said, "I will remember this humiliation, this Mr. Ye, one day, I will make him kneel before me and apologize!"


    The young man in the white suit shook his head and said, "Actually, if you want to humiliate that cripple in public, even drive him out of the Hong Family, you do not have to go to such lengths."


    Zhangsun Hongwei immediately asked, "Chu Tiange, do you have a way?"


    Chu Tiange smiled and said, "Of course, there are ways. Since Old Master Hong is so protective of him, you might as well bypass the old man..."


    "Bypass the old man?" Zhangsun Hongwei furrowed his brows, clearlycking in intellect.


    Hong Yuting spoke firmly, "Chu Tiange, I know that the Chu Family has always wanted to have a marital alliance with the Hong Family, and you have intentions toward me. So, I will give you a chance."


    "Tonight, I don''t care what methods you use, you must humiliate that Mr. Ye severely, and best make him leave the Hong Family for good. If you can do that, then consider the first test a sess!"


    Chu Tiange''s eyes lit up, "Are you serious?"


    Hong Yuting scoffed coldly, "I, Hong Yuting, am the belle of Jiangdu, when have my words not counted?"


    Zhangsun Hongwei walked over and patted Chu Tiange on the shoulder, "That Mr. Ye, now considered half a son-inw to our Hong Family, if you want to be our son-inw, you can''t lose to him."


    Chu Tiangeughed, "A cripple? Youpare him to me? Is he worthy?"


    At this moment, the Hong Family hall was brightly lit, with clusters of Jiangdu''s business elites in suits and leather shoes, holding wine sses and conversing.


    Although everyone was curious about the young man whom Old Master Hong had personally wheeled in, the old master didn''t seem to want to introduce him, so naturally nobody dared to disturb him rashly.


    Ye Feng sat at the most secluded dining table at the back, eating the vegetarian meal prepared by Hong Qingyan at his leisure.


    Even though the hall had all sorts of delicious dishes and fine wines from various regions, he wanted none of them, only eating in porridge with cabbage.


    Hong Qingyan couldn''t bear to watch and said, "Big Brother Ye, should I get you some nice food?"


    Ye Feng shook his head, "No need, none of the food here is as delicious as your in porridge and cabbage."


    At these words, Hong Qingyan was overjoyed, thinking her efforts were not in vain.


    Ye Feng suddenly remembered something and asked, "Speaking of which, Qingyan, you haven''t had dinner yet, have you?"


    "No..." Hong Qingyan replied softly, looking down.


    "Then why aren''t you going?"


    "Grandfather ordered that I must take good care of you first..."


    "Bullshit, even your grandfather has to listen to me!"


    Ye Feng spoke sternly, "Now I order you, go and have your meal immediately!"


    Hong Qingyan murmured acknowledgment and then slowly walked toward the front.


    For some reason, watching her frail, solitary figure and her distinctive limp, Ye Feng''s heart, usually as hard as steel, suddenly ached without warning.


    ```

 Chapter 6 - 6 You Are Not Qualified Enough

    <h4>Chapter 6: Chapter 6 You Are Not Qualified Enough</h4>


    Ye Feng bowed his head and drank porridge, hardly ncing at these so-called Jiangdu celebrities in the hall.


    To many ordinary people, these business celebrities might be sessful and esteemed, but in his eyes, they were not worth mentioning.


    Seventeen stood behind him, straight and spear-like, not moving for a long time.


    Suddenly, the young man who had followed Old Master Hong here, carrying two sses of wine, walked over gracefully.


    "Mr. Ye, I''m sorry foring uninvited, I hope I haven''t disturbed you?" the young man said with a smile on his face.


    Ye Feng kept his head down, continuing to drink his in porridge.


    The young man crouched slightly, smiling, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Shen Minghua, the general manager of Hongtian Group, as well as Old Master Hong''s personal assistant."


    "Just now, Hong Wei was out of line and offended Mr. Ye. I''ve specificallye to offer an apology on his behalf, and I hope that you can be magnanimous."


    Speaking, Shen Minghua extended the wine ss in his right hand.


    Ye Feng looked up, but did not reach out to take the ss of wine, and instead said, "If it was Hong Wei who bumped into me, why hasn''t hee to apologize himself?"


    Shen Minghua smiled, "After all, Hong Wei is the eldest young master of the Hong Family. There are some things he can''t conveniently do."


    Ye Feng couldn''t help butugh, "You''re apologizing for him by yourself. Do you mean to say you can represent the eldest young master of the Hong Family? Or that you can represent the entire Hong Family?"


    Shen Minghua was taken aback andughed awkwardly, "Mr. Ye is joking. Although I''m the general manager, I''m ultimately an outsider and cannot represent the entire Hong Family."


    Ye Feng lowered his head and continued to drink his porridge.


    His meaning was clear: since you''re an outsider, then you should have the awareness of one.


    The atmosphere turned slightly awkward, and Shen Minghua had no choice but to change the subject, "May I know where Mr. Ye is from? From the way Old Master Hong conducted himself earlier, it seemed he holds Mr. Ye in high regard?"


    Having finished his in porridge, Ye Feng put down his chopsticks and waved his hand, "Being but a cripple, why bother asking where I''m from?"


    "True, as the saying goes, heroes don''t ask about each other''s origins. Mr. Ye has gained such esteem from Old Master Hong, and now you''re even the son-inw of the Hong Family."


    As Shen Minghua spoke, he shifted his tone, "Currently, Hongtian Group is in need of talent, and Mr. Ye, with your exceptional demeanor and eloquence, will surely make great contributions to the group in the future. I''m afraid that even my position as general manager might have to be relinquished to the more capable."


    After saying this, heughed heartily on his own.


    But Ye Feng was just staring at him, directly asking, "Are you trying to say that with Old Master Hong''s regard for me, if I were to join Hongtian Group, I would threaten to take over your position as general manager?"


    Shen Minghua was instantly stunned, speechless; he could never have anticipated such blunt talk that left no room for face-saving.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Still, he was the general manager, and he quickly regained hisposure, "Mr. Ye, you jest. If Mr. Ye truly has such capability, I see no issue with stepping down when the timees."


    Ye Feng did not speak further; he felt he had already said enough, and that it was all trivial talk, nheless.


    The scene grew awkward for a while, and Shen Minghua just shrugged and chuckled, saying, "Anyway, Mr. Ye, you are the guest and the son-inw of the Hong Family, and I toast to you."


    After speaking, he extended the wine ss once again.


    Ye Feng still did not reach for it and said, "I don''t mean to disrespect you, but there''s something I need to rify to you."


    Shen Minghua was already somewhat displeased but still managed a smile, "Please do tell, Mr. Ye."


    Ye Feng replied, "Firstly, the wine I drink isn''t here; secondly, I only enjoy drinking with my brothers!"


    After saying this, he turned his head away.


    At that instant, Shen Minghua''s face darkened, and a sh of malice in the depths of his eyes passed swiftly, but in the blink of an eye, he restored a beaming smile.


    "Mr. Ye is right, I was presumptuous; my apologies!"


    He hadn''t even finished the word "apologies" before he turned and walked away.


    Ye Feng''s words from moments ago couldn''t have been clearer: I''m not toasting with you because it''s not that I look down on you, but rather, you''re not qualified enough!


    In that moment, Shen Minghua''s chest burned with rage, and he roared inwardly, "Who do you think you are? A crippled son-inw who thinks too highly of himself!"


    Even as Qingyan walked by, calling out "Big Brother Shen," Shen Minghua did not hear her.


    "What''s the matter, Big Brother Ye? Just now, I saw you having augh with Big Brother Shen Minghua, but suddenly, he left with a long face," Qingyan came over and asked.


    Ye Feng did not answer the question directly, as he usually couldn''t be bothered with irrelevant people, but instead asked, "Have you eaten?"


    "Yes, I have."


    Qingyan nodded and then whispered, "Actually, Big Brother Ye, Big Brother Shen is quite a nice person."


    Ye Feng had to look up: "Oh? Do tell."


    Qingyan continued, "Though Big Brother Shen is a general manager of the group, he''s very frugal. He''s so economizing that he doesn''t even buy a car and takes the subway to and from work every day."


    "He''s also quite handsome, and many female employees in thepany openly pursue him. All of them have been turned down, even those who have presented themselves to him, he has never taken advantage of any."


    Ye Feng''s expression remained unchanged: "Go on."


    Qingyan went on, "In thepany, he never allows anyone to work overtime. Sometimes, when employees workte to rush a project, he''d scold them mercilessly if he found out. That''s why all the staff adore him."


    "And?"


    "Also, he only eats two meals a day, never wastes food. Despite now wearing opulent attire, that''s only due to work necessity. In everyday life, he''s very simple, and it''s said he has a white shirt patched several times and worn for five years."


    "Go on," said Ye Feng.


    "That''s all."


    Ye Feng countered, "So based on these, you''re sure he''s a good person?"


    Qingyan shot back, "Aren''t these traits admirable enough?"


    "They are certainly admirable, but perhaps a bit too much so," he replied.


    "Too much so? What do you mean by that, Big Brother Ye?"


    Ye Feng looked up at her: "Let me ask you, what is it that you live for in this world?"


    "To repay kindness!" Qingyan replied without hesitation. "But, Big Brother Ye, why do you ask?"


    Ye Feng chuckled, "What I want to tell you is that everyone in life has their motives, like you, for repaying kindness, or perhaps for revenge. Of course, more often than not, it''s for fame or power, and others for beauty, fine food, or art, and so on..."


    Qingyan was at a loss: "But I still don''t quite understand."


    Ye Feng narrowed his eyes at that figure who keptworking among Jiangdu''s elites, "This man, not motivated by money, nor by fame, nor by personal gain, nor by luxurious food and clothing, nor by the pursuit of beauty. He seems to want nothing, just a one-way giver."


    At this point, Ye Feng pulled his gaze back to Qingyan: "So what do you think his ultimate aim is with all this?"


    Qingyan was baffled: "I wouldn''t know even more now."


    Ye Fengughed, shook his head, and said, "When a person seems to want nothing on the surface, it often might mean that what he seeks is something much grander."

 Chapter 7 - 7 Turmoil at the Birthday Banquet

    <h4>Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Turmoil at the Birthday Banquet</h4>


    "Is the scheme grand?"


    Hong Qingyan''s eyes widened, "Big Brother Ye, are you saying that Shen Minghua is up to something? But what could he be after?"


    Ye Feng chuckled, "If you don''t believe me, just watch."


    After all, he was the mighty Northern Border King,manding the Northern Border Twelve Banners, where talent abounded like hidden dragons and crouching tigers. What kind of person hadn''t he seen?


    Shen Minghua''s petty schemes couldn''t possibly deceive his Fiery Eyes Golden Pupils!


    "I still find it hard to believe."


    Hong Qingyan shook her head, then chuckled, "Not to hide it from you, Big Brother Ye, but Grandpa was even considering matchmaking me with him before."


    Ye Feng lifted his head, jesting for a rare moment, "So that means I''m stepping in?"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hong Qingyan rolled her eyes, not knowing how to respond to that remark.


    At this moment, the birthday banquet hall was filled with guests, with nearly all the invitees having arrived.


    From Ye Feng''s angle, he observed Hong Zhenguo ascend the stage and gesture for silence before expressing gratitude to the guests for gracing the celebration with their presence.


    Then it was time for the Hong Family''s younger generation to step forward and offer birthday wishes.


    "Let''s also go and wish Grandpa well," said Hong Qingyan as she pushed the wheelchair slowly towards the crowd.


    Chu Tiange had been secretly watching Ye Feng, and now, he couldn''t help releasing a sneer.


    "Yu Ting, the opportunity hase. Aren''t you keen on thoroughly humiliating that Ye surname trash of a son-inw, topletely drive him out of the Hong Family? Now''s your chance."


    Hong Yuting spoke gravely, "You''d better handle it gracefully, after all, it''s Grandpa''s seventieth birthday. If you manage to upset him, even I won''t be able to help you!"


    "Rest assured, I know what I''m doing. Take a look at this," Chu Tiange said, pulling out a Brocade Box.


    The Brocade Box was of an ancient design, evidently with some age to it.


    "What is that?"


    "This is a treasure. With it, tonight, that Ye surname won''t be able to raise his head!" Chu Tiangeughed proudly and straightened up to walk over.


    "I am Chu Tiange from the Chu Family, here on Grandpa''s orders to represent the Chu Family in wishing Master Hong a happy birthday!"


    Chu Tiange''s voice was loud, nearly drowning out the surrounding chatter, and coupled with the fact that the Chu Family was considered a near-First-ss business powerhouse in Jiangdu,


    Chu Tiange, being the heir of Chu Group and the young master of the Chu Family, naturallymanded the attention of everyone around.


    "Haha, very good, very good, there''s no need for formalities!" Hong Zhenguo was delighted,


    But what truly delighted him was seeing Qingyan pushing Ye Feng forward, not because of the Chu Family young master.


    Chu Tiange promptly presented the Brocade Box, "Today marks the grand seventieth birthday of Master Hong, and our Chu Family has spared no effort in finding this gift, which can almost be said to be unique in this world."


    Hong Zhenguo said, "Unique in this world? That could be quite a im..."


    Before he could finish, Chu Tiange had already opened the Brocade Box, "Master, please have a look, everyone, please have a look!"


    In the Brocade Boxy a golden thumb ring, smooth and luxurious. Under the light, it shimmered with a crystal-clear brilliance.


    What was even more eye-catching were the golden dragons intricately etched onto the ring, which appeared lifelike and animated, clearly indicating exceptional nobility at first nce.


    Instantly, someone in the hall eximed, "Could this thumb ring be the legendary Spirit King Ring?"


    "The Spirit King Ring? What is that?"


    "It is said that the Spirit King Ring was worn by a prince in the previous dynasty. It is not only incredibly precious in its own right, but there are also legends that the ring contains spiritual energy and that wearing it for a long time can have the miraculous effect of prolonging life!"


    "To have been worn by a prince from the previous dynasty, that in itself symbolizes a status of nobility!"


    "If this truly is the Spirit King Ring, then the birthday gift from the Chu Family is indeed quite generous. Young Master Chu has always had some intentions towards Hong Family''s daughter; could this be the rhythm of a betrothal gift?"


    "Speaking of the nobility of the Spirit King Ring, a birthday gift coupled with a betrothal gift would indeed be sufficient!"


    The crowd in the hall was abuzz withments, lifting the ring to the skies in praise.


    A look of pride appeared on Chu Tiange''s face, and he smiled, "You jest, but indeed, this is the Spirit King Ring worn by a prince in the previous dynasty. My Chu Family has been on good terms with the Hong Family for generations. It''s just a little token of affection for Grandpa Hong''s seventieth birthday."


    "Tiange wishes Grandpa Hong blessings as vast as the East Sea and a lifespan as long as the Southern Mountains!" After saying this, Chu Tiange passed over the brocade box.


    Hong Zhenguo did not reach out to take it. Precisely because the ring was valuable, and even more so because of what everyone had said about the rhythm of a betrothal gift, he simply could not ept it rashly.


    Seeing this, Hong Tianming said, "Tiange is really thoughtful. Since it''s his token of affection, Father, you should ept it."


    Zhang Yuman also said, "Yes, Father, the Chu Family and our Hong Family have always been on good terms. And this child Tiange is both decent in character and appearance."


    The couple both spoke one after the other, barely stopping short of expressly agreeing to the marriage.


    Hong Zhenguo still stood in ce, not moving. To be honest, he had never considered a marriage alliance with the Chu Family.


    The atmosphere became slightly awkward. Chu Tiange''s eyes shifted, and he nced at Ye Feng with a chuckle, "The one sitting in the wheelchair must be Hong Family''s son-inw, right?"


    As his words fell, the hall suddenly burst into a considerablemotion, as it was clear that many present were hearing this news for the first time.


    Ye Feng kept silent, he couldn''t even be bothered to nce at the other person.


    Hong Zhenguo had no choice but to say, "Indeed,st month, I engaged Qingyan to Mr. Ye."


    "So the rumors are true. Congrattions to Mr. Ye then. Miss Qingyan is both talented and beautiful, and countless distinguished young men in Jiangdu admire her."


    Chu Tiange gave a cupped fist salute to Ye Feng, then, with a twist in his tone, said, "Mr. Ye has an extraordinary demeanor and being the new son-inw of the Hong Family, you must have taken great care to prepare a birthday gift ahead of time for this grand asion of Old Master Hong''s seventieth, right?"


    Hong Zhenguo''s gaze hardened, the old man''s astuteness naturally allowed him to perceive Chu Tiange''s true intentions.


    Hong Tianming also realized, "Yes, Ye Feng, as our Hong Family''s son-inw, have you prepared a gift for today''s seventieth birthday celebration of the old Master?"


    Zhang Yuman said, "The old Master holds you in high regard. Today, on his seventieth birthday, your birthday gift might not match the Spirit King Ring, but it can''t be too shabby either. Otherwise, it wouldn''t just be your concerns as a son-inw that would beughed at ¨C our Hong Family can''t afford to lose this face either."


    Even Hong Wei remarked, "Indeed, Chu Tiange hasn''t be our son-inw yet, and he has already presented the Spirit King Ring. As a son-inw who is already part of the Hong Family, surely you can''t be worse than Chu Tiange, right?"


    This family, one after another, made no effort to conceal the mocking tone in their words.


    Qingyan was almost in tears. She knew that Ye Feng had hastilye over at thest minute and waspletely unaware of tonight being her grandfather''s seventieth birthday; how could he have prepared any gift?


    Qingyan was just about to step forward to exin the situation.


    Suddenly, Ye Feng spoke up. He looked up and stared at Chu Tiange, "You say this is the Spirit King Ring?"


    Chu Tiange sneered, "Naturally, what else do you think it is?"


    Ye Feng smiled slightly and said, "It''s fake!"

 Chapter 8 - 8 Give it to me hard

    <h4>Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Give it to me hard</h4>


    ```


    "Fake? You''re saying the thumb ring is fake?"


    Chu Tiange was stunned for a moment, then burst outughing: "This is truly the joke of the century. You cripple, actually dare to say my Spirit King Ring is a counterfeit?"


    Ye Feng didn''t even need to look at the so-called ring to know it was a fake, because he knew who held the real Spirit King Ring.


    As the previous guest had said, such a ring contained spiritual energy, was extremely precious, and unique in the world; it was not something a minor Jiangdu business magnate like the Chu Family couldy their hands on.


    "Look, Ye, even if you can''t bring out a decent gift, there''s no need for this, right? If you really be the Hong Family''s son-inw, I''m afraid you''ll only bring shame upon the Hong Family!"


    Chu Tiange snorted coldly, his eyes filled with contempt.


    Hong Yuting also said, "Exactly, a worthless man who can''t present a gift, should just admit it, directly. Your actions only make us disdain you even more."


    Ye Feng looked at the two of them, his eyes gradually turning colder. Today was Old Master Hong''s seventieth birthday; he didn''t want to make a move, so as to not embarrass Old Man Hong too much.


    Secondly, with his own status, he really had no reason to bother with such ant-like figures; it was just that these two flies insisted on buzzing in his ear, relentless.


    "The real Spirit King Ring, due to the spiritual energy within, will produce fine spirit patterns, and those patterns must be green!"


    Ye Feng continued, "There are three ranks of thumb rings. The lower rank has chaotic and mixed spirit patterns with impure colors; the middle rank has pure-colored but imprecise patterns; only the high rank has spirit patterns that arepletely green and crystal clear."


    Some guests remarked, "True, there are three ranks of thumb rings. I heard a jade shop expert master mention this, but I wonder, how can the spirit pattern be verified?"


    Upon hearing this, Ye Feng smiled faintly, thinking that there were indeed some well-informed people present, and then said, "How to verify it is quite simple, just smash it and you can clearly see the patterns inside!"


    "What did you say, smash it directly, you want to smash my thumb ring?"


    Chu Tiange immediately bristled, "You cripple really have no sense of gratitude. This is a Spirit King Ring, a treasure of immeasurable value. If you smash it, can you afford topensate?"


    Hong Yuting scoffed, "Not to mention smashing it, even if it''s scratched a tiny bit, he couldn''t afford it in his lifetime!"


    Hong Wei also scoffed, "I say, Ye, as the son-inw candidate of our Hong Family, can''t you be a bit more sincere? If you can''t present a gift, do you have to nder someone else''s property? Do you have no shame? Even if you don''t, the Hong Family does!"


    "Enough!"


    Master Hong roared in anger, truly furious, "What is all this noisy quarreling, Young Master Chu? Whether the thumb ring is real or fake, take it back!"


    "Grandpa Hong, this thumb ring is indeed real..."


    Hong Zhenguo interrupted with a wave of his hand, "The Hong and Chu Families are on good terms. I appreciate your intention to give a gift, but this year, I am not epting any, from anyone!"


    Chu Tiange dared not argue further. Although the Chu Family was an almost first-ss business magnate, they still fell shortpared to the Hong Family, not to mention his aspirations to be a son-inw of the Hong family.


    Beforeing, the elder of the Chu Family had instructed him, hoping for a strategic marriage alliance between the Hong and Chu Families. In that way, the Chu Family could ride on the coattails of the Hong Family''s prestige and enter the ranks of the first-ss magnates.


    Of course, this wasn''t the main objective. The ultimate aim of the Chu Family was the Hongtian Group!


    Currently, Hong Zhenguo was getting on in years, Hong Tianming was notoriously weak and useless, and the third-generation Hong Wei was even more of a profligate incapable of aplishment but exceeding at causing troubles.


    Thus, by bing a son-inw of the Hong Family, the Chu Family could n to gradually devour the Hong Family''s assets. Once Old Master Hong passed away, with the Hong Family leaderless, that would be the moment for the Chu Family to annex Hongtian Group.


    This was the reason why Chu Tiange was willing to present such a generous gift today, seeking a marriage alliance with the Hong Family.


    Suddenly, Hong Yuting said, "Grandpa is impressive and incorruptible, and it is fine not to ept gifts, but that useless man must apologize. He ndered Tiange''s thumb ring as fake; he must apologize today!"


    ```


    Hong Wei said, "Sister is right, the Chu Family is a prestigious noble family after all. This crippled son-inw, who is only good at ndering others with his mouth, kneel down, kneel down and apologize to Chu Tiange!"


    Chu Tiange stood with his arms folded across his chest, silent, as if by not demanding an apology himself it would make him appear magnanimous.


    Ye Feng''s gaze sharpened, and he sneered, "Kneel down to apologize? Are you sure?"


    As a former king who stained the battlefield with blood and defended the nation''s gates with his own strength, no one had ever dared to be so presumptuous in front of him.


    If it were not for the sake of Old Master Hong, these two ignorant fools would have already been corpses.


    Seventeen, standing behind him, had also clenched his fists at this point, with a killing intent soaring to the skies.


    If the other party dared to utter another word, he would certainly strike, and it would be lethal!


    Hong Zhenguo was startled by this and eximed, "Both of you shut your mouths!"


    After speaking, Hong Zhenguo turned to Chu Tiange and said, "Smash it, smash that Spirit King Ring of yours!"


    "Smash it?" Chu Tiange''s eyes widened, thinking he had heard wrong.


    "Smash it, to see what it really looks like inside!"


    Hong Zhenguo''s voice boomed like arge bell, "However much you paid for it, Elder Fu willpensate you at the original price!"


    Old Master Hong knew that if he didn''t step in now, his two foolish grandchildren might very well lose their lives here tonight.


    Hong Yuting said, "Grandpa, what are you talking about? This is the Spirit King Ring, a treasure beyond measure. It''s worth dozens of millions at least. You can''t just say smash it!"


    Hong Wei also said, "A treasure worth millions of dors, Grandpa, you always say I waste money, but now it seems, you''re even more extreme than me!"


    Hong Zhenguo, without another word, pped him across the face.


    "You worthless thing, you are grounded for three months. Sell off all those sports cars in the garage and hand over the money, and you can''t have more than one hundred thousand in spending money for a year, got it?"


    After speaking, Hong Zhenguo gave Hong Tianming and his wife a re, the implied message being that if they dared to go easy on him behind the scenes, they too would be punished.


    Of course, Hong Zhenguo had no choice in the matter; otherwise, this fool might even lose his life.


    Hong Yuting huffed, "Chu Tiange, go ahead and smash it. After all, someone willpensate for it, and your Chu Family won''t lose anything. What are you afraid of?"


    Chu Tiange shouted, "I can smash it, but if this Mr. Ye keeps insisting that my ring is a fake, when we find out this is a nder, he must kneel down in public and apologize to me by kowtowing!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Before Ye Feng could even speak, Hong Yuting snatched the ring and smashed it down hard.


    The ring shattered on impact, and upon picking it up, Hong Yuting said, "There''s a Spirit Pattern, although it''s not very pure. But it''s not green, it''s red. What rank is this?"


    "Red Spirit Pattern? It seems like there''s no rank, not even the lowest. Wearing it for a long time might even be harmful to the person."


    One of the guests who seemed to be more knowledgeable suddenly spoke up.


    Hong Yuting''s face darkened and she turned her furious eyes directly on Chu Tiange.


    With a sinking feeling in his heart, Chu Tiange realized he was finished; his hopes of being the Hong Family''s son-inw were probably dashed.

 Chapter 9 - 9 Traps and Conspiracies

    <h4>Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Traps and Conspiracies</h4>


    Chu Tiange left in a disheveled state; he simply had no face to stay any longer.


    He, the distinguished young master from Jiangdu''s wealthy family, had not only spent a lot of money, but also bought a fake artifact. Moreover, everyone of status in Jiangdu hade to know of it.


    Of course, all of this was not the most hateful thing. The most hateful thing was that Tang surnamed trash!


    "Damn it, if I don''t destroy you, my resentment won''t be quenched!" Chu Tiange swore through clenched teeth as he yanked the car door open and climbed in.


    But as soon as he sat down in the car, Hong Wei also climbed in.


    "Young Master Chu, you promised to embarrass that Ye surnamed trash and drive him out of my Hong Family''s door. You''ve been quite a disappointment," Hong Wei shook his head.


    "What are you implying, Hong? Are you here to mock me?" Chu Tiange said angrily.


    "Mocking you? I don''t have the leisure for that,"


    Hong Wei said with a smile, and then he added, "That Ye surnamed trash made you lose so much face, don''t you, Young Master Chu, want to take revenge?"


    Chu Tiange said, "To take revenge, one needs a n. If that useless son-inw is always around in the Hong Family, what can I do?"


    Hong Wei lit a cigar and said carelessly, "Tomorrow, the Hong Family will be visiting the Qingcheng Mountain Daoist Temple to pray. Just prod a little, and that useless son-inw should also go."


    Chu Tiange said coldly, "Even if that trash goes, if he sticks close to your old man, I still won''t have a chance to make a move."


    "Don''t worry, Hong Qingyan doesn''t drive, and the driver is our man. I will arrange for the driver to take a wrong turn and drive to a remote and uninhabited foothill."


    Chu Tiange''s eyes lit up, and he nodded, "I see, give me the address in advance!"


    Hong Wei didn''t say more, simply opened the door and got out of the car, but before he shut the door, he turned back and said, "That Ye surnamed trash, he has a bodyguard with some skills. You better bring some experts along!"


    Having returned to the banquet hall, Hong Wei found that the birthday feast had already ended, and guests were slowly leaving. Hong Qingyan, pushing Ye Feng''s wheelchair, was slowly heading towards the Inner Courtyard.


    Watching Ye Feng''s retreating figure, Hong Wei couldn''t help but sneer, "A useless son-inw like you dares to think about sitting on Young Master Hong''s head and taking a dump. Tomorrow, you won''t be able to walk away from what''sing!"


    On the way back to the Inner Courtyard, Hong Qingyan couldn''t help but ask, "Big Brother Ye, how were you so sure that Chu Tiange''s Spirit King Ring was a fake?"


    Ye Feng chuckled lightly, "Because with his ne, he couldn''t possibly have ess to the real Spirit King Ring."


    Hong Qingyan didn''t know how to respond to that, so she chose to remain silent.


    She didn''t speak, and Ye Feng generally didn''t say much either. Soon, they reached the Inner Courtyard, and with Seventeen''s help, pushed the wheelchair up to the second floor.


    "Qingyan, go get some hot water for my bath," Ye Fengmanded.


    As soon as she heard this, Hong Qingyan''s ears immediately turned red. Although it was not the first time she had helped this guy take a bath, nor was it the first time she had helped him wash his whole body,


    every time she thought about doing it, her ears would burn with heat, and every time she helped him bathe, her heart would pound.


    Because this guy waspletely unconcerned, wanting her to take off all his clothes every time he bathed!


    The night passed without words, and the next day at dawn, the sun shone brightly. Madam Zhang Yuman of the Hong Family called early to tell Hong Qingyan that the family was going to the Qingcheng Mountain Daoist Temple to pray.


    Hong Qingyan frowned, "But Aunt, I still need to stay here to take care of Ye Feng."


    Zhang Yuman chuckled and said, "No problem, just bring Ye Feng along with you, since he is now half a son-inw to our Hong Family, he is one of us, there''s no issue."


    "Besides, this temple visit to pray is a tradition our family has every spring, and it''s been a convention for over a decade."


    Hong Qingyan asked, "Is Grandpa also going this year?"


    "Yes, the old man is certainly going. Mother passed away at the Daoist temple, so naturally, the old master will return!"


    Hong Qingyan didn''t immediately agree, but instead turned her head to look at Ye Feng beside her. Judging from the expression on her face, she naturally hoped to go as well.


    Because Grandpa was a soldier, Grandma lived in the Daoist temple as a semi-recluse for the past fifteen years and ultimately passed away there. Grandma had been kind to her since Qingyan was little, so she visited every year, especially since today was the anniversary of Grandma''s death.


    Ye Feng looked up at the sky, "The weather is nice, it''s good to go out and clear your mind."


    As the former King of the Northern Border, Ye Feng had long detected something off in Zhang Yuman''s tone over the phone¡ªthe saying goes that anything out of the ordinary is a sign of a demon, so it was very likely that the other side had set some sort of trap.


    But Ye Feng didn''t care, any scheme or trickery was a paper tiger in front of him.


    "So, Big Brother Ye, you agree to go together?" Hong Qingyan''s eyes shone, although she was a cripple, her heart was extremely kind and pure, and when she smiled, she had two dimples.


    Ye Feng nodded, his eyes also revealing a smile as he looked at her.


    The minivan quickly entered the Inner Courtyard, and after everyone got on, the Hong Family''s several vehicles immediately departed.


    Ye Feng, Hong Qingyan, and Seventeen were in one car, the driver was also from the Hong Family. After leaving the city area, the road became somewhat bumpy, which suggested they had reached the suburbs where the road conditions weren''t very good.


    However, the ride got increasingly bumpy, and Hong Qingyan soon realized something was wrong. Looking out the window, she said, "Master, this road isn''t right, we''ve never taken this route in the past."


    The driver smiled, "That''s right, the usual road going up the mountain is under repair, so we have to detour and take another route up."


    "There''s another way up the mountain?"


    "I tell you, Miss Second, just be at ease. I know this ce better than you do, and I was worried about making a mistake, so I specifically checked it out yesterday. There won''t be any problems!"


    Hong Qingyan didn''t ask any more questions, but turned to look at Ye Feng, who was just then closing his eyes, resting and restoring his energy on his own.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    As for Seventeen, that guy was even less of a concern, standing there like a wooden post.


    After turning through two mountain hollows, the car entered an abandoned lumber mill and suddenly came to a screeching halt with a ''creak''.


    "We''re here!"


    "Here? Where is this, this isn''t the Daoist temple!" Hong Qingyan''s eyes widened, but by then, the driver had already flung the car door open and run off in a puff of smoke.


    "Haha, folks, wee to Forest World for a visit!" A robust and fierce man,ughing loudly, pulled open the car door.


    The man bared his chest, revealing incredibly strong muscles, especially a long scar stretching down from his left face to his shoulder, striking fear into any onlooker''s heart.


    Surrounding this scar-faced man were seven or eight burly men who encircled the car.


    "Forest World? And what is that?" Hong Qingyan tried to stay calm, but even a fool would know by then that something was wrong.


    "Without deception, this Forest World is a tourism project I''ve invested tens of billions in. For each visitor, the cost for a tour and sightseeing is ten million!"


    "Ten million, why don''t you just go rob people?" Hong Qingyan''s eyes bulged.


    "Hehehe, turns out you''ve hit the nail on the head, youngdy!" severalckeysughed in weird tones.


    Hong Qingyan felt a bitter lump in her throat and was at a loss for words.

 Chapter 10 - 10 A Good Hand

    <h4>Chapter 10: Chapter 10 A Good Hand</h4>


    Ye Feng remained in a state of closed-eye meditation, seemingly indifferent to the situation outside the car.


    Seventeen, although his eyes were wide open, did not react since Ye Feng always remained silent.


    Hong Qingyan realized something was wrong and tried to calm herself as she secretly attempted to make a phone call for help.


    But this damned ce had no signal.


    "Hehe, little girl, stop struggling. The signal here has been jammed long ago!"


    The man with the scar sneered and waved his hand, "Please get out of the car, the three of you. Now that you''ve entered my territory, naturally, I will treat you ''properly''."


    While speaking, a de unexpectedly appeared in the hand of the man with the scar.


    The seven or eight minions each revealed des, swords, and clubs in their hands as well.


    Hong Qingyan had never seen such a scene and was so frightened that her legs went weak.


    The scarred man chuckled, "Not getting out? Fine. Do you see that cliff up ahead? It must be over a kilometer deep. If this car goes over, the people and vehicle would instantly shatter to pieces."


    Hong Qingyan was extremely scared and, clutching Ye Feng''s arm, asked shakily, "Big Brother Ye, what should we do now?"


    Only then did Ye Feng slowly open his eyes, without even ncing at the ten or so people outside, and simply asked, "Who sent you?"


    "Who sent us?"


    The man with the scar was taken aback but then sneered, "No one sent us. You drove in here. Either pay forty million for the three of you and the car, or that cliff will be your burial site!"


    "Rest assured, if the car falls off the cliff, it will definitely look like an ident. Even if someone investigates, they won''t be able to link it back to us."


    The man with the scarughed oddly, clearly having plotted everything in advance.


    Ye Feng''s expression remained the same as he asked, "I''ll ask onest time, who sent you? Was it Chu Tiange, or that idiot Hong Wei?"


    The scarred man gritted his teeth, "So it seems you''re not willing to pay to avoid disaster?"


    "Seventeen!" Ye Feng just called out.


    "Yes, my lord!" Seventeen finally acted, pushing open the car door and stepping out.


    At that moment, Ye Feng added, "Close the car door; don''t disturb my rest. Find out who''s behind this!"


    As for such petty tricks, how could they possibly fool the Fiery Eyes Golden Pupils of the Northern Border King? The suspicious driver was evidence enough.


    Seventeen nodded, turned, and slowly pulled the car doors closed.


    Hong Qingyan, extremely afraid, turned to look at Ye Feng, only to see him once again closing his eyes to rest and meditate.


    He did not seem scared at all, not one bit frightened!


    Shortly after, Hong Qingyan heard a series of loud bangs outside the car,sting about five seconds, before everything fell silent.


    Then Seventeen pushed the door open and took the driver''s seat.


    "My lord, I found out. The instigator was Chu Tiange!" Seventeen reported before pressing the ignition and then slowly drove away.


    Hong Qingyan rolled down the window and peered out to see the ten or so previously menacing gangsters now lying silent and motionless on the ground, and herplexion went pale.


    She turned to look at Seventeen and then back at Ye Feng, her heart pounding furiously.


    Yet Ye Feng simply asked her, "Do you remember the way up the mountain?"


    Hong Qingyan was startled, "I remember, but are we still going..."


    "You lead the way. Let''s go up the mountain toplete the tribute and prayer first."


    After pondering for a moment, Ye Feng added, "This incident today might implicate the Hong Family. After climbing the mountain, inform Old Man Hong of the situation so he is prepared."


    After finishing that sentence, Ye Feng closed his eyes again.


    Hong Qingyan merely nodded slightly. Despite the myriad of questions she wanted to ask, she found herself unable to utter a word, her mind still filled with the image of the dozen or so bodies lying on the ground at the Abandoned Lumber Mill.


    She really couldn''t believe it. This guy had just killed people yet he was still so calm as if it was nothing to him, and their expressions looked as if they had merely crushed a dozen ants.


    More than an hourter, the car finally arrived at the Daoist temple on the mountain.


    The worship had already ended, Hong Wei and the others had left earlier, and only Old Master Hong was still there.


    "What happened, Qingyan? Why have you only arrived now?" Master Hong asked.


    "We encountered some trouble," Hong Qingyan said with a flicker in her eyes.


    The astute Old Hong Zhenguo immediately sensed something was off and waved his hand, "First go and pay your respects to your grandmother. We''ll talk about everything elseter!"


    Ye Feng did not participate in the worship. Only Old Master Hong and Hong Qingyan entered the Daoist temple.


    About half an hourter, the two came out, and Hong Zhenguo''s face looked very grim.


    "Idiotic bastard, truly an idiotic bastard!" ranted Hong Zhenguo all the way, presumably having heard about the incident from Hong Qingyan.


    Hong Zhenguo quickly approached Ye Feng, bending over slightly and asked, "Mr. Ye, how do you intend to deal with this matter?"


    Ye Feng, sitting in the wheelchair, gazed at the distant mountains and said leisurely, "You should know that for anyone who bes my enemy, even those who plot against my life, I have only one way of dealing with them¡ªkill."


    The moment the word "kill" was spoken, a sudden cold wind blew through the courtyard outside the Daoist temple, the murderous intent chilling. Hong Zhenguo couldn''t help but jump in fright.


    "But Mr. Ye, Hong Wei..." At this moment, the helmsman of the Hongtian Group of the Hong Family of Jiangdu found it almost impossible to speak.


    "I know Hong Wei is your grandson. For your sake, I''m willing to give him a chance."


    "Thank you, Mr. Ye!" Hong Zhenguo bowed his hands in gratitude.


    "Go check immediately and tell me where Chu Tiange is right now!" Ye Fengmanded.


    "Yes!" Hong Zhenguo answered and took out his cell phone to call Hong Wei directly.


    The call connected quickly, and they heard Hong Wei on the other end, "Grandpa, you''re asking where Chu Tiange is; he''s with me right now."


    "Where are you right now?"


    Hong Zhenguo''s voice was stern and incisive; only he, as an old soldier, understood that anyone who acted against the Northern Border King could be considered as courting death.


    In other words, Chu Tiange and Hong Wei were as good as dead at this moment.


    "We''re at the Yingge Beautiful Club. What''s up, Grandpa? Is something the matter?" Hong Wei asked.


    "Yingge Beautiful Club? You still have the mood to enjoy yourself? Leave there immediately ande back home!"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Hey, Grandpa, what are you saying? I can''t hear you well, I''m hanging up, I''ll be backter tonight, that''s it..." With that, Hong Wei cut off the call.


    "Yingge Beautiful Club? Seventeen, let''s go!" Ye Feng ordered.


    Seventeen immediately pushed Ye Feng into the car and hurried to the driver''s seat.


    Hong Qingyan subconsciously followed, but Hong Zhenguo quickly held her back, "You shouldn''t get involved in the matter that''s about to unfold."


    Hong Qingyan asked, "Grandpa, what exactly is going on? Is it serious?"


    Hong Zhenguo sighed, "It''s a long story, and as for whether it''s serious, it depends on the Chu Family''s attitude now. Let''s hope they don''t push their luck."


    After saying that, he added, "No, I must get in touch with Hong Tianming right away and have him order Hong Wei toe back immediately. If that boy really gets involved, I''m afraid I won''t be able to save him either!"


    Hong Zhenguo immediately called Hong Tianming, but thetter just wouldn''t pick up, infuriating him as he cursed, "That idiot Hong Wei has made aplete mess of a good hand!"

 Chapter 11 - 11 Are You Ready?

    <h4>Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Are You Ready?</h4>


    Although it was still daytime, the Yingge Beautiful Club in Jiangdu was already a ce filled with singing, dancing, and boisterous excitement.


    Not manymon people knew about this ce, as the cost of entry wasn''t low, but basically, those who came were influential figures in Jiangdu.


    Many people knew that the entertainment club''s behind-the-scenes owner was none other than the Chu Family, the only powerful n in Jiangdu.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Seventeen pulled up the car directly to the entrance, where two security guards came over to stop them.


    "Get lost if you don''t want to die!"


    With a fierce shout, Seventeen''s gaze, filled with Cold Qi, frightened the two guards into silence.


    And although the car he drove was a nanny van, it was by no means cheap¡ªthe Toyota Alphard. Usually, those who could afford such vehicles were either rich or noble.


    After helping Ye Feng out of the car, Seventeen then pushed the wheelchair inside.


    The two guards finally regained theirposure and hurriedly made a phone call.


    Soon, the security captain led a team to the hall.


    "My friend, are you here to spend some money? If you''re here to have fun, Yingge wees you both."


    The captain waved his hand, and two tall women in cheongsam stepped forward to push the wheelchair.


    "Get lost!" Seventeen red with round eyes.


    The captain''s face immediately darkened, "Friend, it seems you''re not here to y, right? Without lying to you, there are many troublemakers at Yingge on normal days, but in the end, hehe..."


    He stopped there, but the implicit meaning was clear to everyone.


    The mighty Chu Family was the big boss of Yingge, and on the turf of Jiangdu, those who dared to make trouble here invariably ran up against an iron wall.


    "Chu Tiange is inside, right? Tell him to roll out here!" Ye Feng said.


    The security captain was furious and with a big wave, he yelled, "Throw this stray dog out!"


    As his voice fell, four guards charged over.


    Ye Feng, still seated immovably in his wheelchair, did not get thrown out; instead, it was the four guards who undoubtedly found themselves ejected.


    With just one confrontation, the crowd didn''t even have time to see what happened clearly before the guards were tossed out.


    The captain''s expression changed, realizing he was dealing with a tough character.


    As he hesitated, Chu Tiange walked out of the elevator with several young people,ughing and talking.


    "So it''s you, the cripple son-inw. How did you also get here?" The person who spoke first was Hong Wei, his eyes shing with inadvertent astonishment.


    After all, in his view, at this moment, this useless son-inw and that picked-up cripple should have already fallen off a cliff and shattered to pieces.


    Hong Yuting was also among them and coldly huffed, "A cripple who doesn''t stay at home, always showing his face where he shouldn''t. Aren''t you ashamed of throwing our Hong Family''s face?"


    Chu Tiange said nothing; he was deep in thought. Half an hour ago, he had called Scar, but somehow, that guy was totally unreachable now.


    Of course, he couldn''t be reached anymore, because by then, Scar was already dead.


    Ye Feng sneered, "Why I''m here, ask Young Master Chu and you''ll know."


    Chu Tiange spoke coldly, "What a joke, you''re just a waste. Even if you are the Hong Family''s son-inw, I have my hands full every day. How could I have the time to bother with you?"


    Ye Feng turned his head to give a signal.


    Seventeen took out a mobile phone, which belonged to Scar.


    "There''s a recording on the phone; listen carefully, everyone!" Seventeen pressed the y button.


    "Yes, it was Young Master Chu who sent us."


    "Who is Young Master Chu?"


    "There''s only one Young Master Chu in Jiangdu, the Young Master Chu of the wealthy Chu Family, Chu Tiange!"


    "Why did he send you here, and what was the purpose ofing here?"


    "We don''t know why he wanted this, he just ordered us to push your car, with you in it, off the cliff, to make it look like a traffic ident."


    The recording captured Scar''s voice, panicked and pleading, "I''ve told you everything I know, please, I beg of you, spare me, give me a break."


    "Ah...."


    With a scream of agony, the recording ended.


    Chu Tiange''s expression darkened to the extreme.


    Hong Wei was seized with panic, unable to fathom how his seemingly wless ns had not only failed but had also left behind recorded evidence.


    "What a bunch of useless fucks!"


    Chu Tiange suddenly roared, then turned and ordered, "You guys, clear out the guests immediately, tell them Yingge is closed for business today."


    The head of security said, "But Young Master Chu, there are quite a few guests here who are... "


    "Stop your fucking babbling, today''s expenses are on the house, future expenses all half-off. Also, kick out any unrted staff, and shut down all the cameras, you have half a minute!"


    Chu Tiange''smand was almost a shout, his gaze murderous.


    Everyone already knew he was preparing for a killing.


    Hong Wei voiced his fear in a whisper, "Sister, should we leave too?"


    "Why should we leave?"


    Hong Yuting replied coldly, "Since this worthless son-inw came to us willingly, why miss such an excellent opportunity? I want to watch him die with my own eyes, to quell the hatred in my heart!"


    Ye Feng hasn''t moved, still sitting in his wheelchair, silently watching the club''s guests quickly leave.


    In his calm gaze, the actions of Chu Tiange and his men were no different from clowns.


    Soon all the guests had left, leaving over twenty security guards in the hall.


    "Close the main door!" Chu Tiange waved his hand.


    Now that his ns had been exposed, he decided tomit fully, to simply silence any witnesses. After all, this wasn''t the first time he''d done something like this.


    Ye Feng didn''t try to stop them, and there was no need to.


    He just shook his head and sighed.


    Hong Yuting shouted, "You trash, are you scared now? Too bad it''s already toote, the moment you stepped through that door, it was already toote!"


    Ye Feng looked at her and said, "I just thought of a saying, do you want to hear it?"


    Hong Yuting scoffed, "Is this yourst words? I might as well listen."


    Ye Feng sighed, "You should be thankful for having a grandfather like Hong Zhenguo."


    After finishing that sentence, Ye Feng looked up at Chu Tiange with an incisive gaze.


    "I''m not known for my patience, are you ready now?"


    "Ignorant fool, attack..."


    Ye Feng still sat in his wheelchair, not moving, but Seventeen had already sprung into action like a fierce tiger.


    In an instant, the hall erupted with loud bangs, but with the doors tightly closed, those outside were oblivious to the chaos within.


    It only took about two minutes before the doors of Yingge opened again, and a formidable man, pushing a wheelchair, slowly emerged.


    The man in the wheelchair was as calm as ever, a calmness that seemed to have seen all the suffering in the world, a detached tranquility that spoke of a once vast sea that found no other water but the clouds of Mount Wu topare.


    After assisting the man in the wheelchair into the car, the nanny van slowly drove away.


    Shortly after, two figures crawled out from the hall of Yingge, Hong Wei and Hong Yuting, their faces ashen, trembling all over.


    They reeked of foul odor, their trousers wet, clearly scared to the point of urinating themselves.


    "Sister... sister, they are all dead, they''re all dead!"


    "Shut your mouth!"


    Leaning on the doorframe to stand, Hong Yuting watched the departing car and suddenly broke into crazedughter, "Ha ha... it''s over, that trash actually killed Young Master Chu, he''s done for, he is as good as dead!"

 Chapter 12 - 12 Really Think You’re Somebody

    <h4>Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Really Think You''re Somebody</h4>


    The nanny van Elfa left Yingge Clubhouse, and the two upants inside didn''t speak, their expressions neutral, not at all concerned about the recent events.


    For Ye Feng, as the King of the Northern Border, a reigning monarch who once guarded the nation''s northern territories, single-handedly holding at bay the enemy''s million-strong army of wolves and tigers.


    In his lifetime, he had witnessed blood-soakedndscapes, scenes a hundred, even a thousand times greater than this, today''s matter didn''t even ripple the surface of his calm.


    A ruler of an era, a battle-hardened star general, anyone who dared plot against him would be treated as a traitor, to be killed on the spot without discussion!


    Seventeen, evidently, had also faced great trials and tribtions, and neither was particrly talkative.


    Suddenly, Ye Feng spoke, "No need to hurry back to the Hong Family just yet, let''s take a drive around first, it''s been more than a decade since I''ve been back, I want to see how this city has developed."


    "Yes!" Seventeen responded, steering the wheel and then driving aimlessly onward.


    But what Ye Feng didn''t know, and didn''t care to know, was that at this very moment, the Hong Family of Jiangdu and the Chu Family had already stirred up a tumultuous storm.


    It wasn''t until the sun had set and night arrived that the car returned to the Hong Family.


    The weing hall in front of the Hong Family was aze with lights, with Old Master Hong personally waiting at the front gate.


    "Mr. Ye, you have finally returned."


    Hong Zhenguo, along with Hong Qingyan, stepped forward, opening the car door to help Ye Feng out.


    "It''s been years since I''ve been back to Jiangdu. This afternoon I took the opportunity to have a look around; I didn''t expect to see such great development and changes in Jiangdu City," Ye Feng said with a light chuckle.


    But Hong Zhenguo couldn''t bring himself to smile. He thought to himself, with such a big incident having urred, you still have the mood to go sightseeing.


    However, on second thought, it made sense. Who the other party was¡ªa ruler of an era. He would never take such a trivial matter to heart.


    Coming to that realization, Hong Zhenguo rxed a little, smiled and said, "Today I''ve called an important meeting with all the direct lineage members of the family, and we would like Mr. Ye to be our witness."


    Ye Feng replied, "No rush, I''m hungry. Let''s fill our stomachs first."


    Hong Zhenguo nodded and didn''t say more, subtly signaling to Hong Qingyan with a slight tilt of the head.


    Consequently, Hong Qingyan began to push the wheelchair, slowly entering the inner courtyard.


    As they passed through the main hall, all the members of the Hong Family younger generation, including Hong Wei and Hong Yuting siblings, as well as the couple Hong Tianming and Zhang Yuman, and other rtives of the Hong Family like the eldest and second aunts, all came out to the door.


    No one spoke, merely watching in silence as Hong Qingyan pushed the wheelchair past them.


    Not until the wheelchair hadpletely vanished at the end of the corridor did Hong Yuting finally burst out, her voice cold with anger, "This crippled son-inw, he really thinks he''s something, doesn''t he?"


    "Honestly, his airs are just too much. To have so many of us waiting on just him, it''s simply unreasonable!" Hong Tianming''s brother, Hong Tianguo, curled his lip in disdain.


    "Let him eat. I reckon tonight''s meal will be hisst supper!"


    "Having killed the eldest son of the Chu Family, this waste is undoubtedly doomed. The Chu Family will never let him off!"


    Hong Yuting spoke in an angry tone, regaining herposure and calm after an afternoon, seemingly having forgotten her own terrified desperation earlier at Yingge.


    All of a sudden, Hong Tianming asked, "Father, how do you view the assassination of Chu Tiange? What is your stance exactly?"


    Hong Tianguo also said, "Big brother, even if you have already betrothed Qingyan to him, this man still ends up a cripple. Moreover, he hasn''t actually married Qingyan yet, so he can only be considered at best a half-son-inw to our Hong Family."


    "With him having killed Chu Tiange today, he hasmitted a grave offense. You surely don''t still intend to protect such a crippled son-inw, right?"


    Standing in the darkness, Hong Zhenguo remained silent, but inside he sighed. He wasn''t protecting Ye Feng; he was hoping to use Ye Feng to protect the Hong Family.


    ```


    Even Hong Zhenguo had thought of using the opportunity of saving Ye Feng as a chance to hitch the Hong Family to this robust tree. If that were the case, then the Hong Family wouldn''t just rise rapidly in status, but could dominate Jiangdu.


    However, such words he could not say, and it was likely that today he had even less face to say them.


    A golden opportunity had turned into aplete mess because of his two idiotic grandchildren.


    Hong Yuting suddenly said in a cold voice, "Today, not only did Chu Tiange die, but several offspring of Jiangdu''s powerful families were also killed by him."


    "Grandfather, if we don''t hand over this useless Ye Feng today, it''s very likely that one day these powerful families will join hands against our Hong Family, and that would put us in a precarious situation!"


    "Yes, Grandfather, we should beat this trash half to death and then hand him over to the Chu Family, otherwise, our family might be implicated!" Hong Wei chimed in to support.


    Hong Zhenguo was already trying to contain his anger, but upon hearing these two fools speak, his rage shot through the roof.


    "Shut up, you two idiots! If you dare utter one more word, I''ll kill you both first!"


    Hong Zhenguo pointed at the two and gnashed his teeth, "My attitude will be clear after Mr. Ye has finished his meal andes to the hall!"


    Hong Tianguo shook his head without saying much, his expression one of deep distress. It seemed his big brother was truly losing his marbles; he feared the Hong Family''s vast enterprise was about to be ruined.


    In a cold voice, Hong Tianming said, "Let''s wait until he arrives to discuss it, but I''m certain that the Chu Family is already seething with rage. They''ll likelye knocking on our door demanding the person soon."


    "Father, you''d better think carefully about what to do when the timees, whether to hand him over or not!"


    After saying this, Hong Tianming swung his arm and strode into the hall.


    At this time, in the Inner Courtyard''s small attic, Ye Feng was slowly enjoying his porridge, in white porridge with pickled cabbage and radishes. He ate leisurely, savoring every bite.


    Hong Qingyan sat by his side, silently watching him eat. She actually had many questions she wanted to ask, but seeing how calmly he was eating, she found herself unable to speak.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Eventually, Hong Qingyan couldn''t help but ask, "How is it, Big Brother Ye, are the pickled radishes good?"


    Ye Feng smiled and said, "Not bad, just a bit too sour, and not spicy enough."


    Hong Qingyan replied, "Then next time I''ll take note to add more chili."


    Ye Feng turned his head to look at her and said, "Can I make a request?"


    "Go ahead."


    "I''ve been eating cabbage for over a month now; next time can you switch it up?" Ye Feng said with a smile that was a bit irked: "The Hong Family is wealthy and powerful, surely you have more than just cabbage?"


    Hong Qingyan was taken aback, initially thinking he was about to make a substantial request, but it turned out to be this, which inadvertently made herugh.


    "So next time, would you like me to change to baby bok choy instead?"


    "..." Ye Feng was speechless, shook his head, and put down his chopsticks, "Let''s go, to the front courtyard hall!"


    Hong Qingyan stood up and, pushing the wheelchair, went out with Seventeen, who was waiting at the door. They pushed the wheelchair downstairs and then slowly made their way towards the front courtyard under cover of night.


    The front courtyard hall had been bustling with noise, but as soon as everyone saw the young man being pushed in the wheelchair, all the younger generation of the Hong Family fell silent, each turning their heads to look this way.


    "This loser confined to a wheelchair, to think he''s the Hong Family''s son-inw. Hemands more respect than anyone, yet Grandfather still indulges him. It''s like seeing a dog!" Hong Wei muttered disdainfully from a corner.


    "Little brother, cool down. There''s no point getting angry with someone who''s about to die."


    Hong Yuting curled her lip, "I''ve already heard the news that the Chu Family and several other great families are on their way here at this moment. Let''s just wait and see how this waste meets his end!"


    ```

 Chapter 13 - 13 This is My Attitude

    <h4>Chapter 13: Chapter 13 This is My Attitude</h4>


    "Mr. Ye has arrived, pleasee over and take a seat!"


    Hong Zhenguo smiled as he walked over and pushed Ye Feng''s wheelchair to the seat of honor.


    Upon seeing this, the Hong Family younger generation all revealed eyes filled with contempt and resentment. Their own Old Master Hong was bing more and more outrageous.


    If before, this disabled person had been tolerated because he was a son-inw of the Hong Family, but now, this waste had killed someone and offended several of the prominent families in Jiangdu, essentially facing a dead end.


    They couldn''t understand why Old Master Hong was still so concerned about this disabled son-inw.


    Ye Feng said, "I''m a bit tired, if there''s anything to discuss, just say it. Let''s conclude the meeting as quickly as possible."


    Hong Wei couldn''t hold back any longer and, mming the table as he stood up, roared, "What are you, at best you''re just a son-inw, and moreover, a disabled one at that! What right do you have tomand Grandfather?"


    Ye Feng turned his head to look at him, "Remember, I''ve already given you one chance."


    Hong Zhenguo''s expression changed, and pointing at Hong Wei, he scolded, "You imbecile, you still dare to be insolent!"


    "Someone, break this young punk''s leg and confine him for half a year!"


    With a wave of his great hand, Hong Zhenguo immediately had two imposing bodyguards move forward.


    Hong Tianming leaped to his feet, questioning, "Father, what are you doing? Breaking Wei''s leg, have you gone mad?"


    Zhang Yuman also said, "Who dares!"


    "I dare. You all want my stance on this, well, this is my stance. Why are you still standing there, drag this fool out, break his left leg, and apologize to Mr. Ye!"


    Hong Zhenguo stood in the hall like a spear, his presence chilly andmanding, and the two bodyguards immediately went over and hoisted Hong Wei up to take him outside.


    "Old fool, have you be even more deranged? Hong Wei is your grandson, your only grandson, and yet you want to break his leg?"


    Enraged, Zhang Yuman bellowed, "Today, anyone who dares to touch my son, I will fight them to the death!"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Father, aren''t you taking things a bit too far? Breaking my son''s leg, to apologize to this son-inw, this useless son-inw, does he deserve such a big face?" Hong Tianming walked to the center of the hall.


    "Shut your mouth, you fool, look what your son has turned into because of how you''ve spoiled him over the years."


    Unable to suppress his anger, Hong Zhenguo pointed at the two of them and castigated, "Today, not only am I going to disable one of his legs, I will also punish the two of you, or else the Hong Family will eventually fall due to your actions!"


    "Starting tomorrow, you Hong Tianming shall no longer be the Acting CEO of the group, and you, Zhang Yuman, will be removed from your position as Finance Director of the group. Reflect well at home!"


    The moment Zhang Yuman heard this, her face immediately turned pale.


    Hongtian Group is a family enterprise, with Old Master Hong owning the majority of shares. As Chairman of the Group, he has absolute authority on the board.


    At this, even Hong Yuting didn''t dare to speak up.


    Throughout the whole affair, Ye Feng simply sat there, his expression incredibly calm. As a once Northern Border Sovereign, such minor family affairs werepletely trivial to him.


    Hong Tianguo spoke up, "Big brother, this cannot be done. If you dismiss Tianming from the Acting CEO position, who will manage the group in the future?"


    At this moment, the Group''s General Manager Shen Minghua, who had been standing behind Hong Zhenguo, brightened up, even feeling a surge of excitement within him.


    "Regarding the position of Acting CEO for the group, I already have a new candidate in mind!" said Hong Zhenguo.


    "Who is it? Could it be General Manager Shen Minghua? But after all, he is an outsider..." Hong Tianguo began, but suddenly stopped, realizing that Shen Minghua was also present.


    Shen Minghua''s heart had risen to his throat. He initially wanted toe forward and humbly say a few words, but thinking the situation might not be right, he halted.


    Hong Zhenguo spoke sternly, "For the new interim CEO, let Qingyan take over. Hong Tianming, you will rece the position as Chief Financial Officer, and if you don''t perform well, don''t me me for being heartless!"


    Zhang Yuman scoffed coldly, "A greenhorn girl, a foundling wild child, to let her be the acting CEO, does she have the capability, can she hold down the board of directors?"


    At this time, Hong Qingyan had no choice but to speak up, "Grandfather, they are right, not to mention that you picked me up, I also have no qualifications, I can''t be the CEO."


    Hong Tianguo said harshly, "Even if we were to choose from among the grandchildren, Yu Ting would be the most suitable."


    Shen Minghua, who stood behind them, saw his initially ted expression slowly fade away, and then a ferocity gradually emerged in the depths of his eyes.


    Of course, no one noticed him at the time, but Ye Feng''s discerning eye did not miss it.


    Hong Zhenguo raised his sword-like brows and said coldly, "Don''t forget that these old bones of mine are not dead yet. With my assistance from behind the scenes, I believe she will be fullypetent in a few years!"


    Zhang Manyu and others stopped talking. They were nearly losing control; the Old Man of the house seemed to have gone mad to the skies.


    Throughout this period, Tang Feng simply watched with cold eyes, and of course, he was very clear that Old Hong was doing this entirely to bind Hong Qingyan and his dominion, the Northern Border Sovereign, together.


    It must be said that Hong Zhenguo was a man of deep schemes and tactics. Ostensibly, he was suppressing Hong Tianming and others, but in fact, Hong Qingyan was now his almost betrothed.


    If Hong Qingyan really became CEO, then even being associated with the Northern Border King would elevate their status; once his own identity was made public, it would certainly be the moment for the Hong Family to soar.


    But for now, Hong Zhenguo would never dare reveal his identity, at least not without Ye Feng''s permission.


    What a pity that these good-for-nothing members of the Hong Family simply did not understand the painstaking efforts of their Master Hong.


    Members of the Hong Family thought that this son-inw was useless, a good-for-nothing to be scorned and derided every day, but little did they know, they were dealing with a King!


    At this time, Hong Wei had been carried out by two bodyguards. A miserable scream came from outside the yard; it seemed Hong Wei''s leg had indeed been broken.


    As to whether it was true or not, no one knew.


    In any case, Hong Zhenguo knew very well that today, if he did not give a satisfactory ount to Ye Feng, if he did not properly punish this fool, and if in the future he offended Mr. Ye, or evenmitted murder, then the Hong Family would really be finished.


    "Today''s agenda is over, the meeting is adjourned. Don''t think I''m joking again. Tomorrow, Qingyan, you''ll follow me to the group''s board meeting, where I will announce it on the spot!"


    Hong Zhenguo waved his hand grandly and then nobody left, everyone still seated in their chairs.


    They were waiting, waiting for the Chu Family and several other wealthy ns from Jiangdu to arrive.


    If there was still hope in the hearts of Hong Tianming, Zhang Yuman, and others, it would be for the Chu Family.


    Once the people from the Chu Family arrived and took this worthless son-inw away, then the worthless son-inw would undoubtedly be dead, and the agenda just now would be a joke!


    Everyone was waiting to see the joke unfold, waiting for the Chu Family!


    Finally, the people from the Chu Family arrived, and not a few, but a convoy of more than a dozen cars that lit up the entrance of the Hong Family.


    "Ye Feng,e out right now!"


    "Hong Zhenguo, do you understand what you are doing? You are harboring a criminal."


    "Did you members of the Hong Family hear? Hand over that cripple son-inw to me immediately!"


    Upon hearing this, Hong Yuting and others finally showed a smile on their faces.


    Old Master Hong also smiled, he was very clear in his heart, today these so-called powerful families of Jiangdu, the more arrogant they were, the worse their end would be!

 Chapter 14 - 14 Let him come in and see me

    <h4>Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Let hime in and see me</h4>


    Ye Feng was still sitting in the wheelchair, his expression utterly indifferent.


    He did not move, and Seventeen behind him made no move either.


    Hong Zhenguo approached Ye Feng and smiled, "It''s gettingte, Mr.Ye has been busy all day. Would you like to go back to the attic in the backyard to rest?"


    His words made it clear he didn''t take the several powerful families outside seriously.


    Hong Tianming snorted, "Father, that waste surnamed Ye can''t leave. If he leaves now, how are we supposed to exin to the several powerful families?"


    Hong Yuting also said, "Grandfather, things have alreadye to this point. Do you still intend to protect and indulge this disabled son-inw? Aren''t you afraid of bringing disaster upon our Hong Family?"


    Ye Feng spoke up, "Old Man Hong, could you step outside for a moment? Those flies outside are too noisy¡ªhow can one sleep well with that racket?"


    "Yes, Mr.Ye is right. I will go and deal with them now!"


    Hong Zhenguoughed and immediately turned around, striding out with the majesty of a dragon and the ferocity of a tiger.


    Hong Yuting rolled her eyes, thinking to herself: "Flies? Comparing the powerful families of Jiangdu to flies, you really are bloated with arrogance. Wait untilter to see how you die!"


    At this moment, the Hong Family''s main gate was besieged so tightly that water couldn''t leak through, with dozens of bodyguards from the Chu Family and other powerful families surrounding it.


    If it weren''t for the power of the Hong Family, they would probably have already rushed in to seize the person.


    Of course, the Hong Family was no weakling either, with more than a dozen bodyguards standing at the main gate.


    Seeing Hong Zhenguoing out, the Head of the Chu Family roared, "Hong, you finally show up."


    Hong Zhenguo chuckled, "Old Chu, it''s just the loss of a grandson. Your Chu Family hasn''t lost its line of session, so why the fierce anger?"


    "You..."


    The Head of the Chu Family, enraged, stomped his foot and gritted his teeth, "I don''t want to waste words with you. Hand over your useless son-inw to me!"


    Hong Zhenguo kept chuckling, "My son-inw said, you flies are too noisy, disturbing his rest. Scram!"


    "What did you say?" The Head of the Chu Family and the other three heads of the powerful families were furious.


    "Hong, let''s set things straight here. If you don''t hand over your disabled son-inw, tonight, we will tten your Hong Mansion!"


    "tten my Hong Mansion? Big talk!"


    Hong Zhenguo also grew angry, and with a wave of his hand dered, "My men, listen up¡ªif anyone dares to step half a foot through the gate, they will be killed without mercy. I want to see who has the guts!"


    Old Man Hong was ready to go all out; after all, he had the backing of a king, a king who dyed rivers and mountains with blood¡ªwhat was there for him to fear!


    The gaze of the Head of the Chu Family sharpened, nearly ready to burst forth, but after seeing the dozen bodyguards of the Hong Family, each robust and bristling with a threatening aura, he had no choice but to suppress his fury.


    It wasmon knowledge among Jiangdu''s upper society that Hong Zhenguo had served in the military, and at no low rank. After returning, he had gathered many highly skilled warriors to serve as bodyguards.


    "Good, very good, you''ve done well, Hong Zhenguo!"


    The Head of the Chu Family sneered repeatedly and without further ado, made a phone call.


    "I''ve contacted the Chief Supervisor of Jiangdu. Let''s see if you dare obstruct when he arrives!"


    The Chief Supervisor of Jiangdu, in charge of the city''sw enforcement, wielded immense power. Even these powerful families of Jiangdu had to show him some respect.


    Hong Zhenguo remained calm, showing no fear whatsoever. What was the Chief Supervisor to him? In the face of that ''ne'', he probably wasn''t even qualified to carry his shoes.


    As the standoff continued, more than a dozen cars illuminated the entrance of the Hong Mansion brightly, and soon another car drove straight in.


    The Chief Supervisor of Jiangdu, known as the Iron Face Judge, had arrived.


    "You guys are not young anymore. Can''t you sit down and discuss the issue instead of kicking up such a fuss?"


    Chief Supervisor Yan Xu wore a somber expression; after all, everyone here was well acquainted on this ''ne''.


    Chu Min, the Head of the Chu Family, stepped forward and briefly exined the whole affair.


    Yan Xu furrowed his brow and said, "Old Hong, now that a murder is involved, I''m afraid this won''t be easy to settle."


    The Iron Face Judge pondered for a moment before continuing, "We''re old friends, and I don''t want to put you on the spot. Ask the concerned party toe out. Don''t worry, with me here, I won''t favor any side. Everything will be handled ording to thew and fairly!"


    Hong Zhenguo said, "Chief Supervisor Yan, I''m afraid you really can''t handle this one."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    The Iron Face Judge raised his eyebrows and said, "Bring him out immediately, I''m giving face to Hong Zhenguo by not storming in to capture him, so I hope you won''t make things difficult for me."


    Hong Zhenguo considered for a moment, then nodded and said, "I can go in and call for him, but whether he''s willing toe out or not is beyond my control."


    Having said that, he wasted no more words and turned, walking straight into the courtyard.


    Hong Zhenguo entered the hall and approached Ye Feng, but he did not speak because he knew that the man in the wheelchair already knew.


    Of course, he also did not suggest Ye Feng go out because to utter such words would be a sacrilege to the man in the wheelchair.


    The mighty Northern Border King, guardian of mountains and rivers, a ruler of his generation, going out to meet a mere city Chief Supervisor? Ridiculous!


    Hong Yuting and the others kept silent, their faces alight with schadenfreude.


    "A Chief Supervisor? Asking me to go out and see him? What audacity!"


    Ye Feng, with a sweep of his Great Hand, tossed an ancient bronze Token to Hong Zhenguo, "Take this and tell him toe in and see me!"


    Hong Zhenguo took the Token without so much as ncing at it and turned to leave.


    Ye Feng spoke sternly, "Tell him, if he doesn''t recognize this thing, he should call his superiors. If even the higher-ups don''t recognize it, they might as well not bother with their jobs anymore!"


    Hong Zhenguo was exhrated, his heart pounding; as a former trusted aide of the military, he certainly knew what the Token represented.


    Hong Zhenguo went out and ryed the message word for word to Yan Xu.


    Inspector Yan frowned, silent, his expression grave.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Old Hong, give it to me straight, what is this thing?"


    Yan Xu, holding the Token, looked at the simple ancient bronze, on which a Golden Dragon was engraved, with a character for "north" on the back.


    "To be honest, I don''t know either," Hong Zhenguo replied with a chuckle.


    "You..."


    Yan Xu, gritting his teeth, said, "You can''t expect me just to make a call to the higher-ups with this kind of trinket, can you?"


    "Then you might choose not to make the call. You could also storm in there and take him now, but I can tell you, the consequences are something you absolutely cannot afford!"


    After some thought, Yan Xu nodded, "Alright, I''ll make the call!"


    He walked to a corner and then made a call.


    The call connected quickly, and after briefly exining the situation, the person on the other end fell silent, then said, "Wait a moment, remember not to act rashly. I can''t make heads or tails of this thing; I need to report it to higher-ups."


    Yan Xu was dumbfounded, he could tell from the tone of the person on the line that the situation was very serious.


    It didn''t take long for the person to call back, and Inspector Yan immediately asked, "Well, did you find out? What does the Token represent, and what is the identity of the owner?"


    The voice on the other end replied gravely, "As for what the Token represents, the ones above me also don''t know; they don''t have the authority."


    "What do you mean ''no authority''?"


    "No authority means just that, not enough clearance to find out!" the voice on the line eximed.


    Yan Xu, stunned, said, "Even the people above you don''t have enough clearance?"


    As he spoke these words, his heart pounded incessantly, knowing the matter was severe.


    The person on the phone said, "Although we can''t find out, the higher-ups have sent down instructions for me to tell you to back off from this matter, and of course, it''s not something you can interfere with."


    Inspector Yan became anxious, "But, it involves a death."


    The person on the line chuckled, "I recall you saying that it was the Chu Family who first plotted to kill the other party, right?"


    Without waiting for Yan Xu to respond, the voice continued, "The higher-ups instructed me to tell you that even if the owner of the Token only killed the Chu Family''s eldest son, even if he annihted the entire Chu Family, it would be their own fault."


    "To ensure you understand, that person from above also wanted me to tell you to go in and greet that man right away, remember to be polite and respectful!"


    "Anyway, I''ve passed the message. Do as you see fit. Oh, and don''t call me about this again. I don''t want to get involved in this mess. It''s like gods fighting, and you, Little Luoluo, why meddle? I want to keep my job for a few more years!"


    With that, the line went dead with a click, leaving the Iron Face Judge to face the chaos in the wind.

 Chapter 15: Muddy Clay Cannot Be Plastered onto a Wall

    <h4>Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Muddy y Cannot Be stered onto a Wall</h4>


    Chief Supervisor Yan''s heart was pounding hard, and for some reason, as he held the ancient bronze token in his hand, it suddenly felt heavy and hot to the touch.


    The evening breeze was a bit chilly, yet he felt his back drenched with sweat.


    Although there were no specific details about the origin of the token, he wasn''t foolish; from that person''s tone, he had grasped the severity of the situation.


    At this moment, Chief Supervisor Yan had only one question in his mind: just who was the owner of this token?


    Of course, no one provided him an answer.


    At this time, Head of the Chu Family, Chu Min, stepped forward, "What about it, Chief Supervisor Yan, can we now go in and take the person?"


    "Take a ball!"


    The Iron Face Judge, filled with anger, had found a target to vent, "You all better stay put, if you dare to rush in and grab the person, don''t me me for being rude!"


    Having said that, Chief Supervisor Yan walked towards Hong Zhenguo with a smile and said, "Old Hong, please trouble you to introduce me, I would like to meet that person."


    Hong Zhenguo thought for a moment, then nodded, "Alright."


    Following that, the two of them went inside.


    Chu Min and the people from the other three major families were all dumbfounded upon seeing this. What on earth was going on?


    Had the Chief Supervisor who covered up his ck deeds taken the wrong medication tonight?


    "Brother Chu, what should we do now?" a patriarch from another major family asked in a low voice.


    Chu Min''splexion was extremely grim as he bit his teeth and said, "Wait, we''ll see how things go."


    At this time, Yan Xu had already reached the Hong Family Courtyard and as soon as he entered the hall, he saw a person seated in a wheelchair.


    Although he didn''t previously know who the token''s owner was, upon seeing this young man, he was certain that he was the owner of the token.


    Even though the man was seated in a wheelchair, the aura emanating from him was incredibly sharp, making him seem like a mountain. Yan Xu even felt a nameless pressure.


    Especially his gaze, which appeared calm but was incredibly piercing, was like a blood-drinking sword, sending shivers down the spine.


    At this moment, the man in the wheelchair was just quietly looking at him, with an indifferent expression on his face.


    Suppressing his pounding heart, Yan Xu walked up and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "May I ask who your excellency..."


    He halted mid-sentence, realizing he didn''t know the other''s name.


    "My surname is Ye!" Ye Feng announced his surname, and that was all.


    "Greetings, Mr. Ye!" Yan Xu involuntarily bowed slightly.


    Only then did Ye Feng looked up to scrutinize him, suddenly remarking, "You look rather dark."


    Yan Xu was taken aback, at a loss for words.


    Ye Feng then said, "A dark face doesn''t matter, as long as the heart is not dark."


    "Indeed, indeed," Yan Xu could onlyugh awkwardly, suddenly finding himself feeling like a child in front of this person, ufortable in an indescribable way.


    Ye Feng asked, "What, did youe in intending to take me away?"


    Yan Xu quickly rified, "I dare not, I only came in to return the token."


    After saying this, he presented the token with both hands, which Ye Feng took.


    "If there''s nothing else, I won''t disturb Mr. Ye''s rest anymore. Those flies outside, I''ll see to sending them away for Mr. Ye!"


    Seeing the other party take the token and say nothing further, Yan Xu secretly sighed in relief, then turned and walked out of the hall.


    With the conscience of heaven and earth, he genuinely did not want to face this person for another moment. Although the other was seated in a wheelchair, the pressure he exerted felt as though it were heavier than a mountain.


    Yan Xu really couldn''t believe it. Just who was this person? As the Chief Supervisor of Jiangdu, he was someone who had weathered quite a few storms, butpared to the man before him, he seemed very naive.


    The Hong Family hall was very quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Hong Yuting and the others had their eyes wide open, watching this scene with disbelief written all over their faces.


    They could not believe that the imposing Chief Supervisor of Jiangdu, the Iron Face Judge who held jurisdiction over Jiangdu, just walked away like that, not daring to let out a single fart?


    "Let''s go, back to the Inner Courtyard to sleep!" Ye Feng said.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hong Qingyan did not move; she was still in shock and had not snapped back to reality.


    However, Ye Feng was pushing the wheelchair, slowly heading towards the Inner Courtyard''s attic. As for these people from the Hong Family and those clowns outside, he truly did not take them to heart.


    After Yan Xu left the hall, he took a deep breath and said, "Old Man Hong, where did you find such a powerful deity to help you?"


    Hong Zhenguo was just smiling, his face a picture of inscrutable mystery.


    Seeing his expression, Yan Xu clenched his teeth in frustration, and asked again, "Really, you won''t reveal even a bit?"


    Hong Zhenguo said, "It''s not that I don''t want to reveal it, but knowing too much might actually be bad for you."


    "Forget it, forget it."


    Yan Xu waved his hand and sighed, "All these years, the Chu Family has been contending fiercely, trying to overpower you. Now it seems, heh..."


    As Yan Xu stepped out of the Hong Family''s main gates, he nced at the Head of the Chu Family, Chu Min, and suddenly a look of sympathy appeared in his eyes.


    "The night is deep already, everyone should go back. Those who need to wash up and go to bed should do so," Yan Xu said, waving his hand.


    Chu Min was dumbfounded and asked, "We''re going back just like that? What about that person?"


    "That person is naturally still inside."


    Yan Xu offered a nomittal response before opening the car door, diving in, and shouting, "Drive! My head hurts. Oh, and by the way, I wasn''t here tonight, just pretend you didn''t see me."


    The car started up with a roar and drove away, leaving Chu Min and the others eating dust.


    At this moment, Hong Zhenguo chuckled and said, "People get old and can''t stand staying up all night. If you gentlemen are willing, I wee you to guard the gates for the Hong Family."


    After speaking, he patted his buttocks and walked in, even withdrawing the guards at the entrance.


    Truth be told, Hong Zhenguo would have weed the Chu Family making a rash move and charging in to seize the person. If they really did that, then all these noble families would be doomed.


    As the elderly master came in, Hong Tianming immediately approached and asked in a low voice, "Father, tell me the truth, what is the background of that crippled... of that Ye Feng?"


    After everything that had happened that night, especially after witnessing the demeanor and attitude of the Iron Face Chief Supervisor, even a fool could see that there was something more to it.


    Old Man Hong red fiercely, "Don''t ask what you shouldn''t. When the timees, you''ll naturally know. Besides, do your job as the financial director, assist Qingyan as she acts as president, and in the future, the Hong Family will have everything. Do you understand?"


    Hong Tianming felt a rush of heat through his body and asked, "Father, does this mean that as long as we rely on this great tree, our Hong Family will be able to be the number one noble house of Jiangdu?"


    "The number one noble house of Jiangdu? Heh..."


    Old Hong shook his head, pointed towards the sky, and sighed, "My son, can''t we look a little further beyond our own limits?"


    "Does that mean the number one noble house in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province?" Hong Tianming''s eyes widened.


    "The number one noble house in Jiangnan?"


    Hong Zhenguo shook his head again andmented, "Though it''s nice to enjoy the shade under a great tree, there''s also a saying that you can''t help up a leaning wall with mud. I already gave an opportunity before, for Yu Ting to marry him, but what was the result? And then there''s that fool Hong Wei..."


    Hearing this from a distance, Hong Yuting felt a sudden pang in her heart. She suddenly had the feeling that she might have missed something, a sense of inexplicable loss that was distressing and suffocating.

 Chapter 16 - 16 You Are Not a Man

    <h4>Chapter 16: Chapter 16 You Are Not a Man</h4>


    Outside the Hong Family Courtyard, Chu Min and others were still standing there.


    "Brother Chu, what should we do now? Should we still charge in to seize the person?"


    Chu Min red angrily, "Charge in to seize the person? Do you really think that charred-head Yan Xu is a vegetarian?"


    The Head of the Huang Family gritted his teeth and said, "So we''re just going to let this slide?"


    "Let this slide?"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Chu Min snorted coldly, "To kill my grandson is a grudge that cannot be shared under the same sky. How could I possibly let it slide? As long as Hong Yuting''s crippled son-inw is alive, I will never swallow this insult."


    "Get on the car first, and allow me to devise a n for everyone!"


    Chu Min waved his Great Hand and was the first to get into the stretched luxury car, followed by the Heads of the other Families who also got in one after another.


    A dozen cars started up and soon left the Hong Family.


    Inside the car, the Head of the Huang Family asked, "Brother Chu, what good strategies do you have?"


    Chu Min, with half-closed eyes, pondered and said, "Judging from tonight''s situation, that crippled son-inw of the Hong Family must have some background."


    "Of course, otherwise that charred-head Yan Xu would not have been so cowardly!"


    "Thus, we can no longer take the approach through Yan Xu¡ªit won''t work."


    "Just speak out what you have in mind, Brother Chu, stop beating around the bush."


    Chu Min huffed coldly, "I heard that there''s a master following behind that waste of a son-inw from the Hong Family, and it seems he has been trained."


    "Therefore, we can only ask for the help of the Martial Alliance!"


    "Martial Alliance? Good idea, the Martial Alliance is full of Martial Arts Practitioners, and it''s teeming with experts. If they take action, they will surely tear that Hong Family''s waste of a son-inw to pieces!"


    "Hong Family, daring to hinder us tonight, if we don''t uproot them entirely, it won''t quell the hatred in my heart. Perfect, the trap set ten years ago is finally ripe for harvest. It''s time to close the!"


    At this, Chu Min let out a chilling, strangeugh that was harrowing to hear.


    At this time at the Hong Family, although the n Assembly had already ended, Hong Tianming was holding a small meeting on his side.


    In the vi''s grand hall were Hong Wei, Zhang Yuman, Hong Yuting, as well as the eldest aunt and the second aunt, and even Hong Wei was present surprisingly.


    Though his right leg was bandaged, he didn''t seem to be in pain, which suggested his injury was not that severe.


    "Regarding the event tonight, concerning that useless son-inw, I believe everyone has realized something," stated Hong Tianming sitting upright and formal.


    Zhang Yuman snorted, "Initially, I thought he was just a dog, a worthless crawler, but unexpectedly, that cripple has some capabilities."


    "Shut your mouth, such words shall not be spoken in public anymore!"


    Hong Tianming said solemnly, "The main reason I called a family meeting tonight is to decide to marry our Yu Ting to that young man with the surname Ye."


    Hong Yuting immediately objected, "Dad, what are you saying, you want me to marry that cripple at a time like this?"


    Zhang Yuman exploded, "Hasn''t Qingyan, that wild child, been married off to him already? What is this y you are staging now?"


    Hong Tianming scolded, "No wonder father always said you''re like mud that can''t support a wall! Can''t you see anything by now?"


    The eldest aunt of the Hong Family said, "Tianming is right; the old man wouldn''t pay such close attention to him for no reason. Plus, with what happened tonight, it''s enough to show that this Ye Feng is not just a worthless crawler. He''s very likely a dragon."


    Zhang Yuman''s eyes rolled, "That makes some sense, but our Yu Ting is the number one beauty in Jiangdu. Does that Ye deserve our Yu Ting?"


    Hong Yuting said angrily, "Just looking at that cripple makes me want to vomit. There''s no way I''m marrying him!"


    "Ting''er, this concerns the future of our branch of the family, and whether your mother and I can regain control of the family''s power will depend on your performance from here on out," Hong Tianming spoke earnestly.


    Zhang Yuman also said, "Why don''t you give it a try, Ting''er? Even though the old man has promised Qingyan to him, Mom believes that as long as you''re willing to make a move, with your looks and conditions, you will certainly dazzle him into submission."


    "Of course, that wild spawn Hong Qingyan, with her limp, what is shepared to me? She only contests me because I''m not interested. If I made a move, I could snatch that man from her arms in a minute."


    Hong Yuting said with a face full of arrogance, "But Mom and Dad, let''s make this clear. I can make a move and take down that trash named Ye, but if it turns out he''s really just a crawling creature, you can''t force me to marry him!"


    "That''s for sure. My daughter has the face, the figure, and the status. She''s going to marry into a wealthy family, how could she possibly marry a piece of trash!" said Zhang Yuman.


    Hong Tianming waved his hand, "Let''s settle this then, Ying''er, for now you go and ingratiate yourself with him, at least get back the corporate power for your mom and me first!"


    The night passed without incident, and the next day at daybreak, as the first ray of sunlight streamed through the window, Ye Feng was already sitting cross-legged on the bed, hands in Seal Formation at his lower abdomen.


    He began his Breathing Technique. At first, his abdomen and chest were simply rising and falling continuously. As his breathing grew deeper and longer, a mist faintly appeared above his head.


    The white mist, glittering with iridescent light under the sunlight, looked quite mystical.


    Suddenly, Ye Feng raised his eyebrows and stopped his Qi Cirction and Breathing Technique.


    At that moment, Hong Yuting pushed the door open and entered, "Oh, Big Brother Ye, you''re awake. So early too, just in time, I made you bird''s nest porridge."


    Hong Yuting''s eyes wandered yfully, her figure swaying gracefully, especially since she had dressed up meticulously afterst night''s family meeting.


    A low-cut, tight T-shirt paired with a mini denim skirt not only showcased her porcin-white legs unmistakably, but also entuated her wasp waist.


    "Come on, Big Brother Ye. Let me help you get up and get dressed!"


    Hong Yuting walked over, bent down, and deliberately revealed her chest. She knew her top already had a low neckline. Now, with such a move, it was practically all on disy.


    Hong Yuting was absolutely confident that no man on earth, if he was indeed a man, could resist her action.


    Unfortunately for her, Ye Feng was certainly a normal man, but he was not an ordinary man.


    He didn''t even nce at her, his whole demeanor was like still water, and his eyes even showed a hint of killing intent.


    "Who let you in!" Ye Feng shouted lowly.


    "Qingyan, the newly appointed acting CEO of thepany, left for work early in the morning. Thinking that you were without anyone to look after you, worried that you might be hungry, I came over," said Hong Yuting, her words nearly apanied by tears, looking pitifully vulnerable.


    This technique to manipte men had always worked without fail for her; before she could even get halfway through, those men would instantly submit.


    However, Ye Feng simply pointed towards the door with a Great Hand and said only two words: "Get out!"


    Hong Yuting''s eyes widened in disbelief, she bit her lip and said, "Listen here, Ye. I''ve already gone this far for you, don''t be ungrateful."


    It was only then that Ye Feng looked up at her for the first time, his gaze chillingly cold.


    "You have ten seconds to consider."


    "You wouldn''t dare..."


    "I never strike a woman, I hope you don''t make me break that rule!" Ye Feng''s voice was very cold.


    "You, Ye, I give you a little color and you open a dye shop..."


    "Seventeen!"


    As soon as the words fell, Seventeen was already in front of them. Hong Yuting only saw a blur before she was lifted up.


    With a ssh, she was tossed headfirst into the small pond outside the attic.


    Choking on a few mouthfuls of water, Hong Yuting immediately roared hysterically, "Ye, you cripple, how dare you treat me this way, you''re not a man, you won''t die a good death!"

 Chapter 17: The Puppet Master of the Martial Alliance

    <h4>Chapter 17: Chapter 17: The Puppet Master of the Martial Alliance</h4>


    Themotion from the Inner Courtyard''s attic soon brought Hong Zhenguo into the room, along with Zhang Yuman, the Hong family''s eldest aunt, and others.


    "Ting''er, what''s going on here, how did you end up like this?" Zhang Yuman hurried over and pulled Hong Yuting out of the water basin.


    Hong Yuting burst into tears, wailing to the heavens, "It''s that worthless man, our Hong Family''s worthless son-inw, he threw me out, he actually dared, dared to treat me like this, mom, I don''t want to live anymore."


    Her cries were earth-shattering, yet her eyes remained dry, not a single tear fell; her emotions were a y for Hong Zhenguo to see.


    Zhang Yuman cursed furiously, "That damn dog, he''s just a son-inw of the Hong Family, yet he dares to be so arrogant. Yu Ting got up early in the morning to cook porridge, kindly bringing it to him, and this Mr. Ye not only showed no gratitude but also treated Yu Ting so terribly, is there no justice left in this world?"


    Hong Zhenguo didn''t speak, merely looking on coldly.


    At that moment, Ye Feng, seated in a wheelchair, slowly descended from the second floor of the loft, pushed by Seventeen.


    Zhang Yuman pointed at him and roared, "Mr. Ye, you''ve gone too far, you must apologize to Ting''er today, else we cannot stay in this house any longer."


    The wheelchair slowly moved past her; Ye Feng didn''t even look at her,pletely ignoring her.


    Only when the wheelchair directly approached Hong Zhenguo did Ye Feng speak, "Do you remember what I said? No one is allowed to enter the Inner Courtyard''s attic without permission!"


    Hong Zhenguo bowed slightly, "I''m sorry, Mr. Ye, it was my oversight."


    Ye Feng''s cold voice stated, "Don''t let it happen again."


    "Don''t let it happen again? What is that supposed to mean, do you think this is your own home?"


    Zhang Yuman, unable to contain her anger, coldly shouted, "Mr. Ye, I''m telling you, apologize to our Ting''er right now, or this matter won''t be over!"


    "Enough!"


    Hong Zhenguo bellowed angrily, "Aren''t you ashamed of yourselves? Didn''t I give you a chance that day? Yet what was your response? Calling him ''worthless'' at every turn, with your little smarts, do you really think others are fools?"


    Without a word, Hong Yuting turned and walked away, but just as she was about to turn a corner, she stopped abruptly, turned back, and gritted her teeth, "Mr. Ye, let me tell you, I, the foremost beauty of Jiangdu, don''t think I care for you? Today it''s you who fails to appreciate what''s offered; don''t me me for being impolite!"


    Watching their retreating figures, Hong Zhenguo shook his head and sighed deeply, "I''m truly sorry, Mr. Ye, it''s our family''s misfortune that has caused you amusement."


    Ye Feng made noment, at his level, there were few things in the world that could disturb his calm; he simply said, "Have Qingyane back."


    Hong Zhenguo nodded, "I have already contacted her, she should be able to return by noon."


    Ye Feng said no more and slightly tilted his head as a sign, Seventeen stepped forward and steadily pushed the wheelchair onwards.


    Hong Zhenguo called out, "I''ve had someone specially prepare mustard greens and lean pork porridge, does Mr. Ye have an appetite?"


    Ye Feng didn''t speak; he has always been a man of few words, and sometimes silence signifies agreement.


    Breakfast was very light, and after it, Hong Zhenguo suggested, "Mr. Ye, you look well today, how about we y a couple of rounds?"


    Ye Feng nodded, "Sure."


    Hong Zhenguoughed heartily, he was pleased because it was an honor to y chess with the man before him.


    He gestured grandly and pulled out a set of Chinese chess, along with a nail and a hammer.


    Once the chessboard was set up, Hong Zhenguo,ughing, picked up the hammer and the nail, "Shall we stick to the old rules?"


    Ye Feng chuckled lightly, "Let''s follow the old rules."


    Hong Zhenguo didn''t hesitate, hammering the nail; he fixed Ye Feng''s General piece in ce.


    "A General that does not move is like a mountain; the moment it moves, the whole game is lost!" Hong Zhenguoughed heartily.


    He had nailed Ye Feng''s General piece so that it couldn''t move; this was the rule Ye Feng yed by in chess.


    Chess is like life, almost everyone in the Northern Border army knows that when the Northern Border King takes action, it''s as sudden and forceful as a thunderp, changing thendscape itself.


    The two were locked in a fierce battle on the chessboard; however, even with Ye Feng''s central general unmoving, Old Man Hong was no match for him, losing three games in a row in utter defeat.


    Just then, a servant-like old man hurried in, intending to speak. Yet, after catching sight of Ye Feng opposite him, he hesitated.


    Hong Zhenguo furrowed his brows, "Speak freely, there''s no harm in it."


    It was then that the man said, "Mr. Hong, there are visitors at the door iming to be from the Martial Alliance."


    "People from the Martial Alliance?"


    Hong Zhenguo''s expression subtly changed, his hand holding the chess piece suspended midair: "The Martial Alliance rarely intervenes in external affairs, what are they here for?"


    "They said they''re looking for Mr. Ye," the servant replied.


    "Looking for Mr. Ye?" Hong Zhenguo instinctively looked up at Ye Feng across from him.


    Ye Feng''s expression remained unchanged as he merely smiled, "Who would have thought the Martial Alliance had a presence in Jiangdu too?"


    Hong Zhenguo pondered aloud, "It was only established in recent years. The Martial Alliance has a ratherplicated background, with a presence throughout the country. Mr. Ye, what do you think..."


    "Then let them in," Ye Feng chuckled lightly.


    In fact, how many citizens knew that the establishment and national expansion of the Martial Alliance were thanks to the efforts of Ye Feng, the Northern Border King?


    It was due to Ye Feng''s initiative and strong support that the Martial Alliance had risen to such prominence. However, not many knew that Ye Feng, the founder and the hidden Alliance Hierarch, was behind it all ¨C not the citizens, nor even many within the Martial Alliance itself.


    Initially, Ye Feng thought his identity had been leaked and high-level members of the Martial Alliance hade to see him. But when he saw the two people who arrived, he realized he was mistaken.


    The two visitors were young men, walking with their noses in the air and swagger in their steps, as if they owned the ce.


    As the saying goes, ''true quality does not show itself,'' and just by looking at these two, Ye Feng lost all interest, finding the situation tedious.


    "Which one of you is Ye Feng?" a young man from the Martial Alliance demanded.


    Ye Feng didn''t speak. With such men, he couldn''t even be bothered to open his mouth.


    Hong Zhenguo asked, "What business do you have with Mr. Ye?"


    "Are you Ye Feng?"


    "It''s certainly not me."


    "If it''s not you, then stand aside. What do you, an old fool, have to add?" The young men were arrogant.


    Of course, they had the capital to be arrogant, for the Martial Alliance was powerful, and evenmercial giants like the Hong Family in Jiangdu wouldn''t want to offend them lightly.


    Ye Feng said, "I am Ye Feng."


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "You''re Ye Feng? A cripple in a wheelchair?" The young men showed a look of confusion, questioning among themselves, "Could it be a mistake?"


    Ye Feng wasn''t angry, just asked, "At present, who heads the Jiangdu Martial Alliance?"


    The two young menughed, "You asking about our Deputy Alliance Leader of Jiangdu? Is that someone you can inquire about? We thought the Hong Family''s son-inw was somebody significant, but it turns out he''s just a cripple in a wheelchair, no more than a crawling reptile."


    "Such an invalid attracted our esteemed visit, worthy of our attention? Truly a waste of youth."


    "Insolence!" Seventeen moved, pouncing forward like a ferocious beast.


    The young men from the Martial Alliance wore disdainful expressions, confident in their practiced skills and martial prowess.


    Yet with just two thuds, they were sent flying backward, limbs already broken.

 Chapter 18 - 18 If She Loses a Single Hair, I’ll Annihilate Your Entire Clan

    <h4>Chapter 18: Chapter 18 If She Loses a Single Hair, I''ll Annihte Your Entire n</h4>


    The two young members of the Martial Alliance wailed, almost crawling out.


    As they reached the doorway, they hysterically roared, "Ye Feng, you dare toy hands on us, we are from the Martial Alliance, you''re dead meat, you must die, and the Hong Family, daring to oppose our Martial Alliance, you''re all doomed. Just you wait!"


    Seventeen''s expression suddenly darkened, ready to strike again and finish these two dogs'' lives.


    Ye Feng waved his hand and said, "They are but two crawling insects, why dirty this ce of the Hong Family?"


    Seventeen halted in his tracks upon hearing this, then respectfully returned to his ce behind Ye Feng.


    Ye Feng looked up at Hong Zhenguo and said, "Exin in detail, what''s the situation with Jiangdu''s Martial Alliance?"


    The original purpose of Ye Feng establishing the Martial Alliance was to encourage the nation''s people to learn martial arts for a strong and healthy body, and of course, to select experts from the Martial Alliance for the Four Realms Legion.


    After all, martial persons with a foundation inbat skills had significant advantages after joining the military, whether in individual capabilities or teambat.


    After all, in thest century, the nation was weak and impoverished; foreigners even scorned it as the "Sick Man of Asia." In order topletely change this situation, Ye Feng promoted the Martial Alliance nationwide, even allowing it to supplement fresh blood into the military.


    Now, it seemed, the situation was not as he had imagined.


    Hong Zhenguo was unaware that the Martial Alliance was founded by the sovereign before him. He seemed somewhat apprehensive about the words of the two members of the Martial Alliance he had just overheard.


    He shook his head and sighed, "Initially, the Martial Alliance, started off very well, even frequently celebrated for performing chivalrous deeds. However, these past few years, the situation has only been getting worse."


    Ye Feng did not speak. He suddenly thought to himself that the saying "chivalry is often a justification formitting forbidden acts" seemed to hold some truth.


    Hong Zhenguo continued, "I''m not too clear about the situation in other provinces, but as for Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, especially Jiangdu, the Martial Alliance has enormous influence, involving all kinds of forces, with even many Hidden Families getting involved."


    "Hidden Families?" Ye Feng raised an eyebrow.


    "In fact, Jiangdu''s Martial Alliance is now controlled by three major Hidden Families. Despite the Hong Family being recognized as a business giant,pared to these Hidden Families, we are nothing but a minor yer. It is precisely because of this that members of the Martial Alliance dare to be so brazen and unrestrained!"


    Hong Zhenguo sighed repeatedly. The Martial Alliance''s involvement was too extensive, extending throughout the country. Not to mention the Northern Border, by now, members of the Martial Alliance were present in almost all of the Four Great Realms.


    Ye Feng nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Currently, who is in charge of Jiangdu''s Martial Alliance?"


    After pondering for a while, Hong Zhenguo replied, "Embarrassingly, I''m not clear on who exactly is in charge. I only know that within the circle, he is known as the Great Grandmaster. This person is very secretive, like a Divine Dragon whose head can be seen but not the tail, and even I can''t get into that circle."


    "Great Grandmaster, seems to have some tricks up his sleeve," Ye Feng said with a faint smile before falling silent, lost in thought.


    Originally, his intentions for establishing the Martial Alliance were good, but now the Martial Alliance was rife with mixed elements, the good and the bad mixed together.


    "It looks like I''ll have to make a serious effort to reform once I return," Ye Feng reflected inwardly. He then waved his hand, ready to head back to the Inner Courtyard.


    Hong Zhenguo stood there, watching the wheelchair slowly moving through the corridor, and could not help but sigh, "I never thought the Jiangdu Martial Alliance would be dragged into this. It seems the heavens of Jiangdu are about to change."


    Back in the attic, Ye Feng had intended to contact Mu Tian again, but after giving it some thought, he decided against it.


    "Now that my strength has not yet recovered to its peak, and many things are not yet clear, it''s best to take my time returning. This is a good opportunity to quietly investigate, including this Martial Alliance!"


    Ye Feng pondered. The ambush in the Capital Region two months earlier was supposed to be secret; not many people knew his route.


    Yet, Mountain Eagle and those hypocritical National Schrs in the country somehow knew his whereabouts in advance, which meant that his route had been leaked. In other words, there was a spy among his close associates.


    To date, Ye Feng still could not determine the identity of the spy hiding beside him!


    Therefore, the best strategy for the moment was to respond to action with inaction. The former him had been too high-profile and too domineering. "The tree that stands out in the forest is the one that the wind blows down," or "one''s achievements can threaten a superior." Reflecting on it now, the ambush in the Capital Region likely involved aplex web of intrigue.


    Ye Feng let out a small sigh, then slowly closed his eyes and entered into a state of the Void Breathing Technique.


    Time slowly passed, and when Ye Feng opened his eyes, he found that it was already sunset time, and yet Hong Qingyan had still not returned.


    At first, he thought that it was probably because there was a lot of work at the Hong Family Group and Qingyan might have been too busy to leave, so he did not put much thought into it. However, as darkness fell, there was still no sign of her.


    Just then, Hong Zhenguo suddenly ran inside in a fluster.


    "Trouble, Mr. Ye, there''s been trouble."


    Hong Zhenguo was very anxious. The old man had weathered many storms and usually remained calm in the face of problems, but now he was agitated, indicating that the situation was serious.


    "What''s wrong!" Ye Feng asked sternly.


    "It''s Qingyan. Something''s happened to Qingyan!"


    Hong Zhenguo took a breath before continuing, "I had already notified Qingyan toe back at noon, but she hasn''t shown up yet. I just tried to contact her assistant, who said she left thepany at noon."


    Ye Feng asked, "Can you still get in touch with her now?"


    Hong Zhenguo replied, "It''s precisely because I can''t contact her that I''m saying something''s happened. Qingyan doesn''t have many friends and rarely goes out. Even if she goes somewhere, she would tell me in advance. It''s not like her to be unreachable for half a day."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Ye Feng''s eyes slowly narrowed to slits, and he suddenly ordered, "Go contact the Chu Family right away."


    "Contact the Chu Family?" Hong Zhenguo was taken aback and questioned, "Mr. Ye, do you think that the Chu Family is behind this?"


    Ye Feng did not answer, for he rarely responded to others'' questions. He just gave an order, "Tell the Chu Family if they have touched her, if Hong Qingyan is missing even a single hair, I''ll destroy the Chu Family entirely!"


    As he spoke, Ye Feng''s body erupted with a bone-chilling intent to kill, his eyes fiercely sharp.


    Hong Zhenguo couldn''t help but jump, but after regaining hisposure, he said, "I will call them right now and convey your message word for word."


    However, just as he was about to take out his phone, coincidentally his phone began to ring, and the caller ID showed it was the Head of the Chu Family, Chu Min.


    Hong Zhenguo''s brow furrowed, instantly realizing what was happening.


    As the call connected, Chu Min on the other end chuckled first, "Old Man Hong, since we partedst night, have you been well?"


    Hong Zhenguo immediately snapped, "Did youy your hands on Hong Qingyan?"


    "Wow, you found out so quickly. I actually wanted to give you a surprise," Chu Min said with sarcasticughter.


    "Chu Min, do you know what you''re ying with?"


    Hong Zhenguo bellowed, "It was just a small grudge before, but you''vepletely torn apart any pretense and dared to harm Qingyan; do you realize what you''re doing!"


    "A small grudge? Old fool, spare me your cool talk. It''s not your grandson who''s dead, so of course, you''d call it a small grudge!" Chu Min sneered repeatedly, "Sincest night, when you insisted on shielding your useless son-inw, our two families have been at odds with each other!"


    "Enough with the nonsense. Where is Qingyan now?" Hong Zhenguo demanded.


    "Old man, you''re not qualified to talk to me. Have that waste of a son-inw of yours talk to me!"


    "Give me the phone!" Ye Feng suddenly reached out, his voice cold as steel.

 Chapter 19: The Dragon Has Reverse Scales, Touch Them and You Shall Die!

    Ye Feng took the mobile phone and asked directly, "Are you Chu Min from the Chu Family?"


    "Indeed, it is I!" Chu Min retorted coldly.


    "Was Hong Qingyan taken by you?" Ye Feng asked again.


    "Correct, she is currently in my hands!" Chu Min¡¯s voice was equally frosty.


    "Very well," Ye Feng nodded, then continued, "You can start making preparations now."


    Chu Min was taken aback and asked back, "Prepare, prepare what?"


    Ye Feng enunciated, "Prepare a coffin for yourself."


    At the end of that sentence, Ye Feng hung up the phone, with no intention of wasting words with the other party.


    Such trash, in Ye Feng¡¯s eyes, were like ants,pletely unworthy of his time!


    Hong Zhenguo, however, was stunned and blinked before saying, "That was it... You hung up just like that?"


    "What else did you expect, to beg them to show mercy and let Hong Qingyan go?"


    Ye Feng sneered with a wave of his great hand, "Seventeen, let¡¯s go, get the car ready."


    Seventeen didn¡¯t waste any words and started pushing the wheelchair out.


    Hong Zhenguo came to his senses and quickly called out, "But Mr. Ye, we still don¡¯t know where Qingyan is?"


    "There¡¯s no need to know, we¡¯re going straight to the Chu Family!" Ye Feng said without turning back.


    Looking at the silhouette sitting in the wheelchair, Hong Zhenguo couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply, "Indeed, a sovereign of his generation, daunting and imperious, never easily subjected to others."


    Hong Zhenguo was very clear, the Chu Family was doomed next, given the temperament of that sovereign. If Chu Min did not hand over Hong Qingyan obediently, it was very likely that today, the Chu Family would be drenched in blood.


    The car was ready, parked in the courtyard, the same Toyota Alphard that now seemed to be Ye Feng¡¯s designated vehicle.


    But just as the three of them settled into the car, Hong Zhenguo¡¯s mobile phone rang again, still Chu Min calling.


    "Tell that worthless son-inw of the Hong Family to immediately sever his own hands and feet, then crawl before me, kowtow, and apologize. I¡¯ve sent the address to your phone. Otherwise, be prepared to pick up the pieces for Hong Qingyan!"


    Chu Min seemed genuinely enraged, his tone seething.


    At this point, Hong Zhenguo was surprisingly calm, knowing who he was sitting next to. He chuckled and said, "Chu Min, Mr. Ye also has a message for you."


    "Mr. Ye says if you so much as touch a hair on Qingyan¡¯s head, he will annihte the Chu Family to thest member." Having said that, Hong Zhenguo hung up the phone without giving the other side any chance to respond.


    If it were the Martial Alliance, it might have been another story, and the Hong Family would not dare to provoke them, as after all, Hong Zhenguo couldn¡¯t be sure how long the sovereign at his side would stay in Jiangdu. But the Chu Family alone was not something he would consider a concern.


    "Mr. Ye, that old thing from the Chu Family just called saying they¡¯ve sent the address, should we check to see if we should go..."


    "No need!" Ye Feng interrupted directly, speaking coldly, "Straight to the Chu Family!"


    As a sovereign from a former era who once stood guard over thend with his might, staining the rivers and hills with blood, the number of enemies who fell at his hands were countless. There was no situation he hadn¡¯t seen, not a few words, nor even the sky falling, could frighten him.


    Moreover, Ye Feng knew from the call earlier that as long as he had not made an appearance, Hong Qingyan would temporarily be safe, as the real target for the other party was him, with Hong Qingyan merely a means to an end.


    However, it was exactly because of this, that Ye Feng was most furious. Had the Chu Family targeted him directly, he might have been willing to turn a blind eye.


    But now, the Chu Family had touched Ye Feng¡¯s bottom line, just as it is said that the dragon has a reverse scale, touch it and you die!


    On the other side of Jiangdu, along the Jiangdu River, one woulde upon a row of neatly arranged vis.


    These vis were indeed the property of the Chu Family, and members of the Chu Family also lived here.


    The car broke straight through the fence, roaring as it entered, the viplex backed by mountains and faced the river, with the Chu Family building an estate at the mountain¡¯s base. In a ce like today¡¯s Jiangdu, where every inch ofnd is worth its weight in gold, owning such an estate showed the family¡¯s powerful status and strength.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The main gate of the Chu Family estate was tall and imposing, made of the finest nanmu wood; however, with a sudden bang, it was kicked into a broken mess.


    After Seventeen retracted his foot, he turned to push the wheelchair, leisurely making his way inside.


    "God damn, who¡¯s so bold as toe here and wreak such havoc!" In the midst of speaking, seven or eight security guards rushed out.


    Ye Feng said, "Personal grudge, those who don¡¯t want to die, get out of the way!"


    Perhaps it was Seventeen¡¯s kick just now, topped with the murderous aura of the man currently sitting in the wheelchair, that scared the security guards into not daring to advance any further.


    Like this, Ye Feng sat in the wheelchair and went straight to thergest vi.


    Members of the Chu Family, hearing themotion, hurried out from inside.


    "Who dares to act so recklessly, tired of living, are you? To actually run wild on the Chu Family¡¯s own turf!" The first to rush out was a chubby middle-aged man, none other than the eldest son of Chu Min, Chu Xionghe, also the father of Chu Tiange.


    "So it¡¯s you! You even dared toe to us; damn dog things!"


    As the saying goes, sworn enemies are particrly hostile when they meet, and Chu Xionghe, with a wave of his arm, roared, "What are you standing there for, go on, kill that cripple on the wheelchair for me!"


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t move, sitting on the wheelchair, as immovable as a mountain, just as he had been in the face of thousands of enemy troops, let alone these few Little Luoluos.


    Seventeen moved, darting out with a whoosh, and within five seconds, more than a dozen security guards were lying around in disarray.


    This was also what Ye Feng had previously instructed, to hold back against those not involved, no need to break arms and legs.


    Over the years, Ye Feng had adhered to one principle: heaven leaves a line of survivability in everything, so he never killed the innocent wantonly. Of course, he would not be lenient either, and when faced with vicious and ruthless people, his methods were often even crueler than others.


    Chu Xionghe¡¯s face changed, and without another word, he turned and ran inside, dialing a number on his phone as he went.


    Seventeen didn¡¯t give him the chance and acted immediately to capture him.


    With a crack, Chu Xionghe¡¯s hand that was holding the phone was rendered useless, causing him to scream in agony right there and then.


    Ye Feng maneuvered the wheelchair over, picked up the cell phone from the ground, and just happened to hear Chu Min¡¯s anxious voice on the other end.


    "Hello, Xionghe, what¡¯s happening? Speak up, what¡¯s the trouble?"


    Ye Feng said coldly, "Chu Min, right? My name is Ye Feng, and I¡¯m at your Chu Family¡¯s ce right now. Your son¡¯s hand has been broken and he can¡¯t talk to you now."


    On the other end, Chu Min roared, "You bastard, let me tell you, if you dare touch my... don¡¯t me me for fighting you to the death!"


    Ye Feng remained cold, "Remember what I told you, you now have half an hour toe here, and you¡¯d better bring Hong Qingyan with you, unharmed."


    After saying this, he hung up the phone.


    As a mighty Acting King, he was used to others seeking an audience with him; he had never been the one to actively make house calls.

 Chapter 20 The Rainbow Mark of the Great Grandmaster

    The vast Chu Family estate was now eerily quiet; no one dared to speak, not even the few direct lineage members who had been extremely arrogant just moments ago. They were now as silent as dead dogs.


    Although that guy was sitting in a wheelchair, the pressure he exuded was simply immense. He was truly the embodiment of the God of ughter!


    Not even half an hour had passed when several luxury cars roared in from outside.


    Following that, more than a dozen individuals dressed in tight uniforms jumped out of the cars. Chu Min and the heads of the other three major families fromst night were also present.


    "Well, well, who would have thought!"


    No sooner had Chu Min gotten out of the car than he ground his teeth and angrily said, "I really didn¡¯t expect that you, the waste son-inw of the Hong Family, would actually dare toe here!"


    Hong Zhenguo demanded, "Where is Hong Qingyan? Where is she?"


    "Bring her down!" Chu Min gave a sweeping gesture with his great hand, and two bodyguards immediately pulled Hong Qingyan from the back seat of the car.


    Although her hair was somewhat disheveled, she seemed to be unharmed. Only her hands were bound, and she looked somewhat pale.


    The people of the Chu Family were targeting Ye Feng, and using Hong Qingyan as bait. Now that Ye Feng had shown up, they naturally had no need to harm Hong Qingyan.


    Ye Feng nced at Hong Qingyan, then swept his eyes towards the dozen or so individuals in tight uniforms. These people moved with agility and even their footsteps were more solid and stable than ordinary bodyguards, indicating they were likely from the Martial Alliance.


    "Father, Father, you¡¯re finally back. This damned son-inw of the Hong Family, he, he has crippled me!" Chu Xionghe cried out miserably at that moment.


    Chu Min¡¯s expression turned even darker as he waved his hand, "Irrelevant people, get lost. Today, I have some personal matters to settle!"


    As soon as his words fell, the guests of the Chu Family as well as the servants, and even the onlookers who were there for the spectacle, all scattered like smoke.


    Ye Feng wheeled his chair forward and slowly approached Hong Qingyan, then asked, "I am truly sorry for the difort you¡¯ve endured because of me. Did you lose a single hair?"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hong Qingyan didn¡¯t know how to respond and after thinking for a moment, said, "I wasn¡¯t harmed, but indeed, they did pull out some of my hair when they snatched me."


    Ye Feng nodded in response.


    By the side, Hong Zhenguo shook his head and sighed, knowing that today the Chu Family was probably done for.


    "You get in the car first, wait for me inside the car!" Ye Feng waved his hand.


    "But Big Brother Ye, under the circumstances..." Hong Qingyan hesitated, clearly worried about the current situation.


    "Go, get in the car if I tell you to." Hong Zhenguo came over, pulled his granddaughter into one of the cars that had arrived, and then closed the car door.


    Chu Min didn¡¯t stop her. Of course, he didn¡¯t think there was any need to stop her. He sneered coldly and said, "Mr. Ye, I know you, the crippled son-inw of the Hong Family, indeed have some skills, but do you really think that the Chu Family is so easily dealt with?"


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t respond, as he never replied to what he considered nonsensical questions. He simply asked, "Are these dozen or so men all from the Jiangdu Martial Alliance?"


    "Indeed, we are from the Martial Alliance!"


    A middle-aged man stepped forward, with a colorful ribbon emzoned on his chest, and said in a heavy voice, "Mr. Ye, this morning, you crippled two of our Martial Alliance brothers. It¡¯s time for us to settle this ount with you."


    Ye Feng remained silent. Although he was the hidden founder of the Martial Alliance, he assumed these little guys wouldn¡¯t recognize him, and of course, he had no intention of exining.


    However, Ye Feng knew that the man with a colorful ribbon on his chest was an instructor, a First Stage Martial Artist. If there were three colorful ribbons, it would mean a Third Stage Martial Artist, and so on, up to a Ninth Stage Martial Artist.


    This hierarchical ranking system was also designed by Ye Feng himself, corresponding to the domestic and international judo and taekwondo¡¯s first through ninth dans.


    As for those above this ranking, their chest would bear the symbol of colorful clouds. This level could be referred to as a Great Grandmaster. Presumably, the head of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance¡ªthe Deputy Alliance Leader¡ªwould also be a Great Grandmaster with the symbol of colorful clouds.


    "Everyone, this guy named Ye, the crippled son-inw of the Hong Family, first brutally and ruthlessly killed offspring from my Chu Family and three other families. Then, without distinguishing right from wrong, he injured and disabled disciples of the Martial Alliance. He¡¯s far too domineering and insolent, his actions are utterly repulsive,"


    Chu Min gritted his teeth and said word for word, "Today, this waste of a son-inw from the Hong Family must die, he must use his blood to maintain the dignity of the Martial Alliance!"


    At these words, Seventeen¡¯s fists were already clenched tight, every nerve taut.


    Ye Feng shook his head and said, "Out of respect for the Martial Alliance, I spared these ignorant fools their lives. As for the old dog of the Chu Family, Qingyan just mentioned itcks a hair!"


    Having said that, Ye Feng had already started to turn his wheelchair, slowly moving in the direction of the vehicle where Hong Qingyan was.


    "Kill, eliminate this useless son-inw of the Hong Family!" Chu Min suddenly roared.


    The dozen or so Martial Alliance disciples moved, and so did Seventeen.


    At this time, Ye Feng, with his back turned, didn¡¯t look back, nor did he need to, because he already knew the oue.


    It was all over in a very brief moment, just ten or so seconds. When Tang Feng¡¯s wheelchair reached the Toyota Alphard, the fight was already over behind him, and Seventeen had even returned to his side.


    What had been a tense situation had ended abruptly, like a quick-moving storm that passed with the same speed as it had arrived.


    Ye Feng did not ask for details, because there was no need.


    And since Ye Feng did not ask, Seventeen said nothing more, even toozy to borate.


    After helping Ye Feng into the car, Seventeen went back to the driver¡¯s seat and drove off into the distance.


    The car traveled along the Jiangdu River heading upstream. Although it was a cool spring breeze and the evening air was fresh, the atmosphere inside the car seemed oppressive.


    Of course, the main ones feeling the tension were Hong Zhenguo and Hong Qingyan. Even though the car doors had been closed and their view obstructed, the sounds of the fight and the screams they had heard were enough for Hong Qingyan to imagine the scene.


    She looked at Ye Feng, wanting to say something several times, but each time she hesitated and held back.


    After thinking for a moment, Hong Zhenguo finally said, "Mr. Ye, because of this matter, we are now thoroughly at odds with the Martial Alliance. I¡¯m afraid from their side¡­"


    Before he could finish, Ye Feng had already spoken, his voice as calm as ever.


    "Find an opportunity tomorrow to visit the Martial Alliance, and convey a message to the Great Grandmaster Alliance Hierarch for me."


    "Yes, what message do you need me to convey, Mr. Ye?" Hong Zhenguo asked.


    "Tell him toe see me."


    That was Ye Feng¡¯s message, decisive and straightforward, his words exuding an intense sovereign aura.


    What to him were Martial Alliance Deputy Alliance Leaders and Great Grandmasters? In Ye Feng¡¯s eyes, they were all but ants.


    "Yes, Mr. Ye, I will ensure your message is delivered," Hong Zhenguo replied after a long silence, finally nodding.


    All of a sudden, Ye Feng turned his head to look at Hong Qingyan and asked, "Are you tired?"


    Hong Qingyan was taken aback and blurted out, "I¡¯m not... not tired."


    Ye Feng nodded, "Good, I¡¯m hungry. Prepare dinner when we get back, and by the way, no big bok choy, no little bok choy either."


    Although Hong Qingyan had still been in a state of tension, she couldn¡¯t help but let out a snort ofughter at these words.

 Chapter 21 Do you understand what I mean?

    Ye Feng and the others returned to the Hong Family, and the night had darkened, passing without incident.


    As dawn broke the next day, Hong Zhenguo left the Hong Family to head for the Headquarters of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu, presumably to convey a message on behalf of Ye Feng.


    When the first ray of sunlight shone through the window, Ye Feng got out of bed and, as usual, sat cross-legged, watching the golden morning light and began his breathing technique.


    His technique of breathing and Seal Formation was quite peculiar, and as time went by, a visible white mist gathered around him. Most astonishingly, a golden glow faintly appeared above his head.


    In the moment when the golden light surfaced above his head, Ye Feng¡¯s lips curled slightly upward, revealing a smile that had been absent for a long time.


    "As the saying goes, ¡¯without breaking, there is no establishing¡¯; now I see, now I see!" Ye Feng eximed with a smile.


    Just then, a knock came at the door, and Hong Qingyan entered with breakfast, smiling, "Big Brother Ye, have you stumbled upon some joyful news? You seem very happy."


    Ye Feng smiled, "Hearing that you¡¯ve prepared breakfast and it¡¯s not only cabbage dishes, of course, is a happy asion."


    Hong Qingyan rolled her eyes at him and proceeded to help Ye Feng wash up.


    After breakfast, Hong Zhenguo returned and went straight to the attic.


    "Mr. Ye, I went to the Jiangdu Martial Alliance early this morning and have just returned from there," Hong Zhenguo said.


    "How did it go?" Ye Feng asked.


    "I¡¯m embarrassed to say that I couldn¡¯t even see the legendary Alliance Hierarch Great Grandmaster, let alone enter the doors of the Martial Alliance," said Hong Zhenguo with a bitter smile.


    Despite the Hong Family being amercial giant in Jiangdu, they were barely noticeable in the eyes of the Martial Alliance, which was a nationwide organization. Furthermore, core members and protectors of the alliance, many of whom hailed from ancient families, held positions of power within the Jiangdu branch.


    Ye Feng¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, but he said nothing, acknowledging the Martial Alliance¡¯s arrogance which had made it the dominant force in Jiangdu.


    Hong Zhenguo continued, "However, the matter you entrusted to mest night has been ryed, and they will likely report it to the Alliance Hierarch Great Grandmaster."


    Ye Feng nodded slightly, "That will suffice."


    Hong Zhenguo moved his lips as if he wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent.


    In fact, he was somewhat worried. Although Ye Feng, as the ¡¯Northern Border King¡¯, had no reason to fear the Jiangdu Martial Alliance, the alliance represented a collective power. Who knew if there were some higher-ups in the Jiangdu branch, or if there was supporting from the Dragon City of the Imperial Capital?


    Ye Feng, however, was not concerned at all and then, asked Hong Qingyan to push his wheelchair for a stroll in the courtyard.


    On the way, Hong Qingyan pondered before speaking, "Big Brother Ye, I need to go out for a bit today; I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to apany you this afternoon."


    "Where to? Is there something at the grouppany?" Ye Feng asked casually.


    "Not the group, I n to visit the orphanage."


    "The orphanage?" Tang Feng was somewhat surprised.


    Hong Qingyan paused before exining with a bitter smile, "You see, before Grandpa brought me home, I grew up in an orphanage. It wasn¡¯t until I was five that Grandpa took me back to the Hong Family."


    "Although I no longer want for anything in the Hong Family, there are still many orphans at the orphanage who are just as pitiable as I was. I actually visit them every week, and Mrs. Liu from the orphanage has always been very kind to me."


    Ye Feng understood and nodded, "It just so happens I¡¯m free too, so I¡¯ll apany you. Consider it a way to rx."


    Hong Qingyan said happily, "Big Brother Ye, you¡¯re willing to apany me?"


    Ye Feng smiled and said, "Speaking of which, I¡¯m an orphan too. I left Jiangdu when I was twelve and haven¡¯t been back for many years. I was just thinking of revisiting the old scenes."


    "Then let¡¯s set off right now, shall we?" Hong Qingyan was extremely delighted.


    It was still the Toyota Alphard from yesterday, and Seventeen was driving again as the three of them set off.


    As the car drove out of the Hong Family¡¯s gate, Hong Yuting, along with Hong Wei and others, walked out of the hall.


    "This damned crippled son-inw, to think he is still so rxed andfortable. He killed the Head of the Chu Family yesterday and I even heard that he injured more than a dozen members of the Martial Alliance. Does he really not feel the slightest bit of fear or worry?" Hong Wei said in a grave voice.


    "He knows what it¡¯s like to worry and be afraid? There¡¯s a saying that fits well, ¡¯Ignorance breeds fearlessness,¡¯ and it refers to this kind of stupid, ignorant waste."


    Hong Yuting curled her lips, her eyes filled with venomous spite, "Just wait and see. While the Chu Family may not carry enough weight, the Jiangdu branch of the Martial Alliance isn¡¯t to be taken lightly. He left several of their members crippled yesterday. The Martial Alliance won¡¯t let him get away with it!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hong Wei humphed, "It¡¯s a good thing you distanced yourself from him yesterday, sister. You didn¡¯t get involved with him anymore. Otherwise, when the people from the Martial Alliancee knocking for payback, we might get dragged down too."


    "Get involved with him?" Hong Yutingughed and said, "A cripple? I, the number one beauty of Jiangdu, would take notice of him? It was only because I didn¡¯t pay him any attention that Hong Qingyan, that foundling, mattered at all."


    Hong Wei nodded and asked, "By the way, father rushed out early in the morning, saying that General Manager Shen Minghua had asked for a meeting. Is there something going on?"


    Hong Yuting replied nonchntly, "How would I know about that? That Shen Minghua also pursued me before, but I rejected him."


    Upon mentioning this, Hong Yuting¡¯s face showed pride. As Jiangdu¡¯s number one beauty and the focus of the socialite world, she was admired by many. Though Shen Minghua was one of the younger generation and quite outstanding, he was still far from being good enough for her.


    Suddenly, Hong Wei said, "Oh sister, speaking of your suitors, it reminds me of someone."


    "Who? I have many suitors; enough to circle around Jiangdu. Who are you talking about?" Hong Yuting said proudly.


    "It¡¯s not someone from Jiangdu. To be honest, none of the young talents from Jiangdu are worthy of you. Even Chu Tiange, who¡¯s ranked in the top ten here, is nothing but trash."


    "Not from Jiangdu? Are you talking about someone from the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province?" Hong Yuting raised her eyebrows inquiringly.


    Hong Wei nodded, "Exactly, from the Jiangnan Province, Jiang Tianlong of the Jiang Family."


    "Jiang Tianlong, one of the Four Great Dragon Sons of Jiangnan? I have some impression of him." Hong Yuting said somewhat proudly because her fame as the number one beauty of Jiangdu had even spread to the Jiangnan Province.


    Hong Wei said with a smile, "Just yesterday, this young master of the Jiang Family contacted me because of Chu Tiange¡¯s incident. I told him the general situation, and Jiang Tianlong said he would visit Jiangdu in a few days. Sister, if you¡¯re interested, shall I arrange it?"


    Hong Yuting pondered for a moment and then nodded, "Alright, arrange it when the timees. Also, include those young talents from the ancient families that control the Jiangdu branch of the Martial Alliance. It¡¯ll be clear who stands out when wepare them side by side."


    "No problem, sister. You can rest assured I¡¯ll gather all the young talents from the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province and see who catches your eye," he said.


    Hong Yuting smiled smugly, her eyes gleaming as she suddenly said, "Right, while you¡¯re at it, invite our lovely crippled son-inw too. You understand what I mean, right?"


    Hong Wei¡¯s eyes lit up, "Understood."


    Grinding her teeth, Hong Yuting said, "As the saying goes, you don¡¯t feel the pain till theparison is made. Is that Ye fellow not arrogant enough? When he ispared with those young talents from the Jiangnan Province, he will understand what a gap truly is!"

 Chapter 22 I am his fiancé

    ```Hong Qingyan did not go directly to the orphanage; instead, she first visited a shopping mall to buy a variety of stationery and storybooks, and then headed to a toy store to purchase toys. In the process, she traversed several ces.


    Ye Feng was just apanying her, not saying much, just watching the limping girl constantly on the move and couldn¡¯t help but feel touched.


    Honestly, although Hong Qingyan wasn¡¯t as beautiful as her sister Hong Yuting, when it came to personality and kindness, she was far superior to Hong Yuting.


    Perhaps due to her background, she rarely argued with others and spoke little, her personality being solitary and quiet; however, Ye Feng knew that deep down, this woman was very proud and fiercely independent.


    For some reason, looking at this woman of good nature, pure-hearted as a Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus, Ye Feng felt a gentle affection beginning to stir within him.


    There was a time when he, a ruler who had stained thends with blood, had a heart as hard as iron. But now, it seemed to be slowly melting.


    It¡¯s undeniable that as one of the most outstanding individuals of the younger generation nationwide, the name "Northern Border Sovereign" once drew widespread attention from aristocraticdies in the capital. Many beautiful and talented women from noble families had yearned just to catch a glimpse of his true face.


    Ye Feng remembered how, three years ago, on a visit to Dragon City Capital, manydies and talented women flocked to see him, causing such traffic congestion that the grand avenue tens of meters wide in Dragon City waspletely blocked. It even led to a stampede; dozens of people were trampled to death or injured.


    But facing those noble beauties swarming to him like butterflies to a me, Ye Feng remained unmoved; however, now, the tenderness buried deepest in his heart was being slowly stirred.


    Hong Qingyan, holding a stack of stationery, said with a bright smile, "I am really sorry, Big Brother Ye. I got carried away and bought so much. I should have prepared earlier, and now I¡¯ve made you run around with me. You¡¯re not getting impatient with me, are you, Big Brother Ye?"


    Ye Feng replied with a smile, "Not at all, I don¡¯t have much else to do. Today, Seventeen and I are your followers¡ªwe¡¯ll go wherever you go."


    Hong Qingyan lifted her snowy chin, thought carefully, and said, "Right, I need to buy some new clothes as well. Summer ising, and I want to get some summer clothes for the children."


    Afterward, the two returned to the shopping mall until they had almost everything they needed. The car was packed full, and only then did they set off for the Jiangdu West Orphanage.


    The West Orphanage was located to the west of Jiangdu. Compared to the East New District, which had developed in recent years, this area had be an old district. The buildings were disorderly, short, and dpidated, with the orphanage tucked away in a corner of these worn-down structures.


    The ce was notrge, the iron gate was rust-stained, and even the walls were peeling and mottled. Yet in front of the dpidated gate was parked a brand-new, shiny BMW 530, which was quite eye-catching.


    Next to the white BMW, a young man in a white suit stood. He was well-dressed, seemingly a sessful member of society. Holding a bouquet of flowers, he kept looking around as if waiting for someone.


    As soon as the young man in the white suit saw Hong Qingyan getting out of the car, his eyes lit up. He approached her quickly, smiling, "Qingyan, you¡¯ve finally arrived. I¡¯ve been waiting for you here for quite a while."


    Hong Qingyan was surprised and said, "Ah, Big Brother Yu Jie, what brings you here?"


    Yu Jie smiled and said, "Listen to what you¡¯re saying. We both came from the orphanage, this ce is our home, our roots. How could I note?"


    At this point, he hurriedly offered her the bouquet of flowers, "These are for you; I hope you like them."


    Hong Qingyan was taken aback and did not reach out to take them, instead asking, "What¡¯s this for, Big Brother Yu?"


    The young man, his hairbed slickly, said with a smile, "I don¡¯t mean anything by it, I just thought that flowers suit a beauty; moreover, when we meet, I can¡¯te empty-handed¡ªthat wouldn¡¯t be gentlemanly. It¡¯s not my style."


    "You¡¯re kidding, Big Brother Yu. I wouldn¡¯t dare im to be a beauty; today, I am here to visit the children in the orphanage."


    After a moment of thought, Hong Qingyan said, "Well then, why not give the flowers to the children? They will probably like them."


    Yu Jie¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, but he quickly smoothed it out and with a smile agreed, "You¡¯re right."


    "Then, I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of the children," Hong Qingyan said, smiling as she finally epted the bouquet.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Though she was usually quiet and reserved, it didn¡¯t mean she was emotionally unintelligent. Yu Jie had shown her more courtesy than otherdies in the past, and especially today, he had made a special trip here to wait for her, even bringing flowers.


    Even without having mentioned it outright, Hong Qingyan knew what he was thinking, and it was precisely for this reason she hadn¡¯t acknowledged his words directly. Of course, being a kind woman, even in refusal, she didn¡¯t want to embarrass him, so she came up with a clever way to decline gracefully.


    Yu Jie said with a smile, "Actually, I came today with quite a lot of things to give to the kids at the orphanage, like books, book bags, clothes, etc. Let¡¯s go in together, shall we?"


    "Sure, but please wait a moment."


    Hong Qingyan turned and walked to where Ye Feng had just gotten out of the car, and started to push his wheelchair.


    Because they were worried the car might hurt the children inside, they couldn¡¯t drive it straight in and had to park at the gate, then carry the items inside. After being notified, several staff members quickly came out to help.


    Seeing Hong Qingyan herself pushing the wheelchair, Yu Jie nced at the man on it and finally couldn¡¯t resist asking, "Qingyan, who is this?"


    Hong Qingyan was just about to say he was her fianc¨¦, but when the words reached her lips, she suddenly held back, because she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it.```


    Who knew Ye Feng would chuckle and say, "I am her fianc¨¦."


    "Fianc¨¦?"


    Yu Jie¡¯s eyes widened instantly, his face filled with disbelief, and it took him a while to ask, "That¡¯s impossible, right, Qingyan? The man in the wheelchair, is he really your fianc¨¦?"


    Hong Qingyan didn¡¯t say anything, only nodded slightly.


    A dark look shed in the depths of Yu Jie¡¯s eyes. Although it was fleeting, it did not escape Ye Feng¡¯s perceptive gaze.


    As the Northern Border Sovereign, Ye Feng had already noticed upon getting out of the car that this well-dressed so-called sessful man had designs on Hong Qingyan.


    Of course, as the saying goes, a fairdy is a gentleman¡¯s favored pursuit, and Ye Feng would not take offense to the man¡¯s interest in Hong Qingyan. But seeing that Hong Qingyan had no interest in him, Ye Feng decided to dere himself as her fianc¨¦ to spare Hong Qingyan any trouble.


    Yu Jie shook his head, smiling as he said, "Qingyan, I really can¡¯t believe it. You were still single half a month ago. How could you suddenly have a fianc¨¦ now? You¡¯re not, ying a joke on me, are you?"


    Hong Qingyan replied, "This is my grandfather¡¯s wish."


    "Mr. Hong¡¯s wish?"


    Yu Jie paused, looked at Ye Feng, and suddenly smiled, "May I know how to address you, my friend? It seems you are wheelchair-bound¡ªare your legs not working, or are you unable to walk because of a broken foot? If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s really such a pity; someone as young as you ending up disabled in the lower half of the body."


    Even though Yu Jie¡¯s words seemed caring, the mocking and sarcastic tone was evident.


    Ye Feng¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change in the slightest, and he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to respond, just a socially acimed sess, not worthy of fuss over a word or two.


    Hong Qingyan also didn¡¯t pick up on that remark, just as at that moment Director Liu from the orphanage, a woman with a kind face in her fifties, came out.


    "Qingyan, you¡¯re here." Director Liu walked over quickly.


    "Mrs. Liu, hello!" Hong Qingyan turned around and bowed to Director Liu.


    Seeing this, Yu Jie also turned and bowed, calling out loudly, "Director Liu, hello!"


    Director Liu was taken aback, looking back and forth at the man, and said in astonishment, "This gentleman looks somewhat familiar, but honestly, I... "


    "Director Liu, you don¡¯t recognize me? I¡¯m Yu Jie, the one who was in the same ss as Qingyan, the one you often scolded for being a troublemaker."


    "Ah... you¡¯re Yu Jie? You¡¯ve grown so much."


    Director Liu was sincerely surprised and shook her head with a sigh, "It¡¯s amazing, you¡¯ve all grown up so fast. I remember Yu Jie, you used to be so skinny and dark, and now you¡¯ve grown into a talented young man, achieving such great sess in your career. It makes me so happy."


    Yu Jie waved his hand modestly and said, "Director Liu, you¡¯re ttering me way too much. My career has just achieved a little bit of sess. I¡¯ve started my ownpany and am my own boss. Of course, having the sess I have now, I owe a lot to Director Liu¡¯s nurturing and education when I was a child."


    At this point, Yu Jie pointed at Hong Qingyan and said, "That¡¯s why, as the saying goes, ¡¯When you drink water, think of its source.¡¯ Today, I came back to the orphanage with Qingyan, to express our gratitude."


    Director Liu nced at Yu Jie and then at Hong Qingyan, expressing surprise, "You two, aren¡¯t together, are you? Well, it would make sense. You both are a handsome couple and could be..."


    But before she could finish, Hong Qingyan interrupted, "Mrs. Liu, actually, I just happened to run into Brother Yu Jie today. We¡¯re not together, and also, Mrs. Liu, I have a boyfriend now, and he came with me today."


    "That¡¯s right, Mrs. Liu, his name is Ye Feng, and he¡¯s a really good person."


    As she said this, Hong Qingyan turned her head to gesture towards Ye Feng.


    Director Liu said apologetically, "I¡¯m truly sorry, Qingyan, for the misunderstanding. Please don¡¯t take it to heart."


    With that, Director Liu nodded slightly towards Tang Feng to express her apologies.


    "Director Liu, hello!" Ye Feng greeted her proactively, even lowering his head slightly.


    This scene, if seen by the soldiers of the Northern Border, would surely shock them. Their king was taking the initiative to greet an outsider and even bowing his head slightly¡ªa totally unprecedented gesture.


    Of course, for Ye Feng, Director Liu was someone who had devoted most of her life to running the orphanage, building a home with her effort for those children without families, and she deserved Ye Feng¡¯s respect.


    Such a person, with such an admirable character, deserved respect and admiration from the bottom of Ye Feng¡¯s heart, even as the Northern Border Sovereign!


    Meanwhile, Yu Jie, having heard Hong Qingyan¡¯s words, had a thoroughly dark expression on his face, feeling extremely displeased. Director Liu had praised him highly, which he had enjoyed, but Hong Qingyan¡¯s words had severely damaged his pride.

 Chapter 23 Why Not Mooch When You Can

    Yu Jie considered himself to have good manners, particrly in business circles of Jiangdu, where he was recognized as a rising star. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t lose his sense of propriety.


    The situation seemed somewhat awkward, and Director Liu hastily said, "Right, let¡¯s not all just stand at the door. The children were so happy to hear that you wereing, Qingyan."


    Hong Qingyan smiled and said, "I¡¯ve actually missed the children too."


    "Then let¡¯s quickly go inside and distribute the gifts you¡¯ve brought to the children," Director Liu said, leading the way in.


    Yu Jie had nned to stride confidently into the orphanage, but suddenly, he changed his mind, walked over to his car, and began moving things.


    The staff of the orphanage hastily said, "Mr. Yu, we can handle these items, there¡¯s no need to trouble yourself."


    Yu Jieughed and said, "It¡¯s no trouble at all, not in the slightest. As someone who also came from an orphanage, I have hands and feet and am d to help out and give some love."


    He emphasized the words "have hands and feet" heavily, implying mockery towards Ye Feng, who was sitting in a wheelchair at that moment.


    Ye Feng stayed silent, toozy to care about the remark. Even the mighty Chu Family seemed like ants in his eyes, let alone someone like Yu Jie, who was even less significant in his view.


    Hong Qingyan pushed the wheelchair slowly inside.


    Off to the side, Director Liu observed Ye Feng without anyment and then nced at Hong Qingyan. She seemed on the verge of saying something several times but ultimately held her tongue. Although she didn¡¯t understand why Hong Qingyan would choose a man with a disability as a boyfriend, it was ultimately the couple¡¯s personal business, and she had no ce to ask.


    The orphanage had many children, and when they saw Hong Qingyan enter, they joyfully crowded around her, showing how genuinely they weed her.


    In contrast, Yu Jie¡¯s behavior seemed a bit ostentatious, and to visibly make a show of it, he even took out money on the spot to give to the children.


    Director Liu frowned but said nothing, and neither did Hong Qingyan.


    Suddenly, a child with dirty hands from ying in the mud came over, grabbed Yu Jie by the cor, and started to smear mud on his face with the other hand.


    "What are you doing, get away from me!" Yu Jie yelled in anger and pushed, sending the child flying.


    The child was small and fell to the ground, bursting into tears immediately.


    The other children were frightened by the scene and stood still, not daring to approach Yu Jie any further.


    A slightly older child said timidly, "Big brother, actually, Little Yingzi likes you, that¡¯s why she rushed to smear mud on your face. She didn¡¯t mean to dirty you on purpose."


    "Yes, big brother, we used to do the same with Sister Qingyan, and she was willing to y in the mud with us, Little Yingzi didn¡¯t do it on purpose..."


    The crying Little Yingzi, wiping away tears, also said, "I¡¯m sorry... I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll wash your clothes clean, okay?"


    Yu Jie froze on the spot, and the situation became awkward again.


    When Ye Feng saw this, a pang went through his heart as he suddenly thought of himself and certain scenes from his childhood.


    Hong Qingyan stepped in and said, "It¡¯s okay, big brother didn¡¯t mean it just now. Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t be mad at you. Come on, everyone, let¡¯se over here and have some sweets."


    The children, being simple-minded, quickly forgot about the incident when they heard about the sweets and became joyful again.


    Yu Jie touched the mud on his face but said nothing, simply leaving, probably heading to the restroom to clean up.


    Ye Feng shook his head slightly upon seeing this, reflecting on the character of the well-dressed so-called sessful businessman.


    After the gifts were distributed, Hong Qingyan yed the handkerchief tossing game with the children until three hourster, near evening, before she left.


    As they exited the gate, Yu Jie appeared, quickly walking up and calling out, "Oh, Qingyan, do you remember that girl with the braids from our group, the one who was quite close to you back then?"


    "Braids? You mean Lin Caixia? Of course, I remember her. Why do you suddenly mention her?" asked Hong Qingyan.


    Yu Jie smiled and said, "Well, a year ago, I made a chat group and invited everyone from our batch. You know we¡¯re all orphans, and despite the hardships of childhood, it¡¯s exactly why those times are precious."


    Hong Qingyan nodded, agreeing with him.


    Yu Jie continued, still smiling, "Speaking of which, just before this, Lin Caixia called me. Today is her birthday, and it also marks the one-year anniversary of our chat group, so I¡¯ve organized a gathering for tonight so we can all meet up again."


    Hong Qingyan fell silent. In her heart, she wanted to go, eager to reminisce with her old friends from childhood, but then she thought of Ye Feng...


    Yu Jie suddenly became stern and said, "Qingyan, you and Lin Caixia were the closest back in the day. She heard you were at the orphanage and that you¡¯d gone to the Hong Family. She said that if you don¡¯te tonight, then you are looking down on them, and she won¡¯t acknowledge you as a sister anymore."


    Hong Qingyan still didn¡¯t speak but turned to look at Ye Feng with an inquiring expression.


    Ye Feng knew he had to speak up, he could tell how much Hong Qingyan hoped to make the trip.


    Suddenly smiling, Ye Feng asked, "Mr. Yu, who initiated this gathering? If we attend, is there an entrance fee? If so, how much does each person need to pay? Just to be clear, if it¡¯s too pricey, we won¡¯t go."


    Yu Jieughed loudly upon hearing this, "Rest assured, Mr. Ye, there¡¯s no charge. I organized this event and I¡¯m covering all costs. Although I can¡¯t im great business sess, I¡¯m fully capable of handling these expenses without any pressure."


    In all honesty, Yu Jie was beyond thrilled inside after hearing Ye Feng¡¯s words. He had finally figured out that the man in the wheelchair was not only disabled but also a penniless country bumpkin.


    His remark was just too amusing, but of course, to show his manners, Yu Jie didn¡¯t let it show on his face.


    Ye Fengughed, "Really? Since there¡¯s a free feast, why wouldn¡¯t we go? Qingyan, let¡¯s go. Only an idiot would turn down free food and drinks."


    "..." Hong Qingyan could only roll her eyes in speechlessness at thisment and chose not to respond.


    All of a sudden, Yu Jie gestured with his hand and, with a gentlemanly smile, said, "Qingyan, why don¡¯t you just ride in my car? It¡¯d be convenient for me to tell you on the way who¡¯ll be attending tonight. Let me tell you about our peers who..."


    But before he could finish, Hong Qingyan interrupted, "I¡¯m sorry, Big Brother Yu Jie, but Big Brother Ye isn¡¯t very mobile, and I need to take care of him. Actually, there¡¯s no rush. We can meet and recognize each other at the event. Just give us the address, and we¡¯ll get there on our own."


    Yu Jie nced at Ye Feng, a hint of gloom flickering deep in his eyes, then nodded, "Alright, the address is Yingge Beautiful Club. You should know it, the one owned by the Chu Family. It has quite a reputation in Jiangdu."


    As he said this, a smug look briefly crossed Yu Jie¡¯s face. Being able to organize an event at Yingge Beautiful Club was a status symbol of wealth and reputation in Jiangdu.


    "Yingge Beautiful Club?" Hong Qingyan¡¯s expression changed suddenly, recalling that not long ago Ye Feng had visited Yingge Beautiful Club. Although she hadn¡¯t apanied him, she knew what had transpired there¡ªthe Chu Family¡¯s young master had been there.


    Ye Feng¡¯s face remained calm, but he was surprised that after such a big incident at the Chu Family, Yingge Beautiful Club had reopened so quickly.


    "What? Is there a problem?" Yu Jie inquired, thinking further, chuckling, "Actually, many people in the group mentioned that Yingge Beautiful Club is very expensive and it¡¯s not necessary to be so extravagant. But I thought, since it¡¯s our one-year anniversary, marking the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, it has to be grand, right?"


    "Right, right," was all Hong Qingyan could awkwardly muster with a smile.


    "Well then, I¡¯ll head over first. See you there!" Feeling triumphant, Yu Jie pulled open the door of his BMW, plopped down inside, and then drove off with a roar.


    Only then did Hong Qingyan turn to look at Ye Feng and said carefully, "Big Brother Ye, I have a small favor to ask. Can I ask you for it?"


    Ye Feng chuckled in slight irritation, "Just go ahead and ask."


    Hong Qingyan said, "It¡¯s about... Yu Jie. When we get there, if they do something inappropriate, could you please be a little more tolerant? Of course, if they go too far, you don¡¯t have to put up with it."


    Ye Fengughed, "No problem."


    With a beaming smile, Hong Qingyan, along with the others, then proceeded to set off in the car.


    In the evening, as the three of them reached Yingge Beautiful Club, the sun had set, and the dusk was gracefully descending.


    As soon as Hong Qingyan got out of the car, a tall woman in a red dress with high heels approached her quickly.


    "Oh my, it is you indeed, it really is you, Qingyan, our little bean sprout from back then," the woman in heelsughed heartily, her expression quite exaggerated, and with her thick makeup, she appeared slightly out of ce.


    After scrutinizing her for a moment, Hong Qingyan eximed in surprise, "Lin Caixia, it is you! I¡¯m so happy. I never thought we¡¯d meet again."


    Lin Caixia said with a smile, "Yes, it¡¯s been a blink of an eye and fifteen years have passed. By the way, bean sprout, I heard from Yu Jie just now that you¡¯re already engaged. Is that true? And, Yu Jie also said that your fianc¨¦ is wheelchair-bound, disabled. That can¡¯t be true, can it?"


    Lin Caixia¡¯s expression was dramatically animated, and her loud voice drew the attention of several other orphans from their orphanage.


    Just then, Ye Feng emerged slowly from the car with Seventeen¡¯s help and settled into a wheelchair.


    Seeing this, the former orphanagepanions immediately started to murmur among themselves.


    "That man is Hong Qingyan¡¯s fianc¨¦, really a disabled man in a wheelchair? That¡¯s..."


    "Although Qingyan has a slight limp, she¡¯s pretty and considered a beauty. She¡¯s also the second daughter of the Hong Family of Jiangdu. It¡¯s said that the young talents of Jiangdu pursuing her could line up around the orphanage, and it seems even Yu Jie is interested in her. Who would have thought she¡¯d end up with a disabled man..."


    "Yu Jie indeed likes her, but we all know what he¡¯s really after. He¡¯s interested in pursuing Hong Qingyan, but I bet his true intent is to make use of the Hong Family¡¯s prestigious influence."


    "Makes sense, but regardless, for Qingyan to marry someone disabled, how does that saying go? A rose wed to a patch of cow dung."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Exactly, an excellent cabbage taken by a waste. It¡¯s just not right!"

 Chapter 24 You’re Not Even Qualified to Pour Wine

    Hong Qingyan¡¯s childhoodpanions were whispering to each other on the side, without any intention of hiding their conversation.


    Yu Jie watched from the side with a slight lift of the corner of his mouth, revealing a smug look of self-satisfaction.


    Among this group ofpanions, Yu Jie was undoubtedly the most sessful, having started a smallpany, so naturally, everyone looked up to him.


    Yu Jie had hurried over on purpose, needing only to fan the mes a little, and these orphanagepanions immediately switched to his side.


    Hong Qingyan was close to tears, standing there, not knowing how to start the conversation. If she had known it would be like this, she wouldn¡¯t havee.


    Several times, Hong Qingyan stealthily observed Ye Feng, and seeing that he remainedpletely indifferent, her anxious heart finally eased somewhat.


    What Hong Qingyan feared most was that Ye Feng, in a rage, would cause someone¡¯s blood to spill on the spot again¡ªthe blood from Chu Tiange a few days ago probably hadn¡¯t even dried yet.


    Ye Feng remained unmoved; he simply couldn¡¯t be bothered with such ant-like trivial characters that didn¡¯t even qualify to anger him.


    The atmosphere had be awkward for a moment, and Yu Jie knew it was time for him to step in, so he pretended to cough twice.


    "Everyone, let¡¯s not just stand around here. Since everyone is here, let¡¯s go in," he said, then gestured with a sweeping hand motion.


    Lin Caixia said, "Yes, it¡¯s rare for Brother Jie to organize such a gathering. He¡¯s spent money and made efforts for it, so we should all have a good time."


    As she spoke, this woman dressed in red high heels and heavy makeup sent continuous flirtatious nces towards Yu Jie.


    Hong Qingyan immediately saw through the act. Lin Caixia was interested in Yu Jie, and her previous deliberate mockery of Ye Feng was to ingratiate herself with Yu Jie.


    Hong Qingyan felt very ufortable, but since they were already at the entrance, it wouldn¡¯t look good to leave now.


    Under Yu Jie¡¯s lead, everyone walked in noisily, heading into the prestigious private room inside.


    However, when Ye Feng¡¯s wheelchair was pushed through the hall, a bartender nearby was so scared that his face turned pale, and the ss in his hand fell to the ground with a snap, his legs shaking uncontrobly.


    "What¡¯s wrong with you? Having a fit?" another bartender asked.


    "He... he¡¯s here, he¡¯se again!" The frightened bartender pointed towards the receding figure of Ye Feng and spoke with a trembling voice.


    "He¡¯se, but who is he?" The other bartender followed the direction of the finger, then she saw the wheelchair turn a corner and caught a glimpse of that stern face.


    "Oh my god, the God of ughter is here again!" the bartender eximed in a trembling voice.


    "What do we do now? Should we run for it right away?"


    "No, we can¡¯t run, at least not now. I¡¯ll call the boss immediately."


    After regainingposure, the bartender returned to the front desk and picked up thendline.


    The call went through quickly, and it was Chu Xionghe who answered.


    "Hello boss, it¡¯s bad, there¡¯s been an incident, that person is here again..."


    "Who? Who is here again? We have lots of regrs at our club, isn¡¯t it normal for returning customers?"


    "No, it¡¯s that person, the one... the one who killed Young Master Chust time, he¡¯se to Yingge Beautiful Club again."


    "What are you saying? That crippled son-inw from the Hong Family?"


    Even through the phone, the trembling, nervous voice of Chu Xionghe, the current patriarch of the Chu Family, was clearly audible.


    "Yes, that must be him!"


    The other side fell silent until finally asking, "What does he want,ing here? Is he causing trouble again?"


    "No, he seems to be here for a gathering with friends."


    "A gathering?"


    "Yes, boss. It¡¯s in the prestigious private room, organized by Mr. Yu Jie from Xingjie Co., Ltd., a regr of ours."


    As the bartender spoke, he immediately excused himself, "Boss, I¡¯m not feeling well today, I have a stomachache, I need to take a leave and go home."


    "Me too, my stomach hurts as well, I also need to leave, right now!" The two bartenders said before hanging up the phone.


    On the other end of the line, Chu Xionghe was in a state of panic, "This crippled son-inw from the Hong Family, what exactly does he want bying here again?"


    "It won¡¯t do, I have to call that kid Yu Jie first to ask about the situation!" Chu Xionghe didn¡¯t have Yu Jie¡¯s number.


    In his eyes, such a smallpany owner was just a bit yer. Even though they had some business interactions, Chu Xionghe didn¡¯t bother to keep his contact information. He thought for a moment and decided toe in person.


    Because he knew the guest registry at the club would have it on file. Moreover, the Chu Family couldn¡¯t afford any more disruptions; if something went wrong today and that fellow med the Chu Family again, they might really be finished.


    Chu Xionghe rushed out, driving straight to Yingge Beautiful Club.


    Meanwhile, the prestigious private room was already bustling with cheerfulness. About twenty people were gathered in small groups, some singing, others chatting, while Ye Feng sat in a corner with Hong Qingyan personally selecting some vegetarian dishes for him.


    She then sat by Ye Feng¡¯s side and didn¡¯t go anywhere else. During that time, she only symbolically nibbled on a piece of pastry, as she had no appetite whatsoever.


    As for Seventeen, Ye Feng hadn¡¯t let him in; there was no need.


    The private room wasrge, and over there, Lin Caixia was singing passionately to Yu Jie. Honestly, her singing sounded like a pig squealing, yet she waspletely immersed in it.


    As soon as the song ended, Lin Caixia immediately pointed towards Hong Qingyan and made a suggestive look at Yu Jie.


    Yu Jie understood and then led a few people over to Ye Feng¡¯s side.


    "How is it, Mr. Ye, the food prepared here is not bad, right?"


    Approaching, Yu Jie chuckled and said, "I mentioned earlier that the delicacies in the private room are all free of charge, so you don¡¯t need to spend any extra money. Mr. Ye, feel free to enjoy."


    Ye Feng remained silent, continuing to bury his head and drink his congee.


    Yu Jie shook his head, smiling, "Don¡¯t just stick to those vegetarian dishes. Over there, there are bear paws, and there¡¯s a ¡¯82 Lafite. These, I presume, Mr. Ye, you¡¯ve never had before, right?"


    The words sounded like a host caring for a guest, but everyone present could hear the insinuation, almost as if he was about to directly say you this disabled bumpkin have probably never even heard of fine products like bear paws and Lafite before, let alone tasted them.


    Ye Feng remained indifferent, "I¡¯m used to a vegetarian diet."


    Yu Jie said, "Wait a moment, I¡¯ll get the red wine. It¡¯s notmon for us to have a gathering, so no matter what, we should at least have a toast, and let you taste this ¡¯82 Lafite."


    Lin Caixia asked with a smile, "Mr. Ye must be no ordinary man to be Qingyan¡¯s fianc¨¦. Could it be that you also own argepany like our Brother Jie?"


    Ye Fengughed and shook his head slightly.


    Lin Caixia continued, "Not apany owner? I thought Mr. Ye was a boss too. Then what kind of job do you have, Mr. Ye?"


    Ye Feng still shook his head.


    "No job?" Lin Caixia feigned surprise, "So you¡¯re an unemployed drifter then?"


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t respond. He was not a man of many words, speaking most only to Hong Qingyan, let alone having a habit of answering other people¡¯s questions.


    Hong Qingyan couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and said, "Big Brother Ye is not well right now, so naturally, it¡¯s difficult for him to work."


    She would have been better off not saying anything, as those around began to mock, "Lin Caixia, how can you be so silly? Mr. Ye¡¯s legs are crippled, how can he still work? Besides, even if he wants to, I¡¯m afraid no one would hire him."


    Lin Caixiaughed instead of getting angry and said, "That¡¯s true, too bad. If his legs weren¡¯t crippled, he could have gone to Yu Jie¡¯s bigpany. Brother Jie is kind, he would have definitely arranged something."


    Ye Feng remained untroubled, still eating what was in his bowl, as if there were no one else around.


    Seeing this, Lin Caixia raised her brows, unable to hide her displeasure.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    She then turned to Hong Qingyan, "Qingyan, we are sisters, and some words might not sound pleasant, but for your own good, I feel I should still speak up."


    Hong Qingyan said with some resignation, "Say what you want."


    Lin Caixia spoke up, "I¡¯m saying, Qingyan, you¡¯re notcking in conditions yourself, being the adopted daughter of the Hong Family. Even if you can¡¯t inherit the Hong Family¡¯s fortune, it won¡¯t be too bad for you. How could you... choose a cripple as your husband?"


    Even with her usual temper, Hong Qingyan got angry upon hearing this, "That¡¯s my business, and I know what I¡¯m doing."


    "Of course we know it¡¯s your business, but marriage is not a matter to be taken lightly. We all want the best for you, Qingyan. While he is still just your fianc¨¦ and you haven¡¯t officially married, there¡¯s still time to shake off this burden!"


    Hong Qingyan was so angry that her whole body trembled, and she began to cough repeatedly.


    Lin Caixia shook her head and sighed, "No offense, but with such a cripple, the Hong Family surely wouldn¡¯t acknowledge him as a son-inw, right?"


    Finally having finished the food on his te, Ye Feng put down his chopsticks. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin, paying no attention to Lin Caixia, and turned to Hong Qingyan, "I¡¯m done eating. The vegetarian food here is not bad, better than cabbage and small bok choy."


    Originally still angry, Hong Qingyan couldn¡¯t help butugh when she heard these words, "Since you¡¯re done, let¡¯s go back then."


    The two of them talked among themselves, treating everyone else like thin air.


    Of course, only someone like Ye Feng could be so calm andposed under such circumstances.


    Lin Caixia nced at Ye Feng and muttered to herself, "Indeed, just a leech and an idiot."


    Hong Qingyan didn¡¯t say another word and immediately began to push the wheelchair to leave, as she was truly worried that Ye Feng would explode.


    Yu Jie hurried over with two sses of wine, "What¡¯s the matter, Qingyan? Are you leaving already? You haven¡¯t even had a drink."


    Hong Qingyan replied, "I apologize, but I¡¯m not feeling well, so I¡¯ll be leaving first."


    "You¡¯re not feeling well? Is it serious? Should I take you to the hospital right away?" Yu Jie asked with apparent concern.


    "No need. With Big Brother Ye by my side, I¡¯ll be fine."


    Yu Jie¡¯s eyes shed with a dark look but he soon smiled again, "Alright then, but before you go, you should at least have a ss of wine. Mr. Ye, as Qingyan¡¯s fianc¨¦, we should definitely have a toast tonight, right?"


    Ye Feng looked up at him and said word by word, "In this world, there are less than five people qualified to clink sses and drink with me, and you don¡¯t make the cut. Don¡¯t even talk about drinking with me; you¡¯re not even worthy to pour me a drink!"


    Bang...


    The wine ss in Yu Jie¡¯s hand smashed to the ground, shattering instantly, and the red wine spilled all over the floor.


    "What did you say? I¡¯m not qualified? Not even qualified to pour you a drink?"


    Yu Jie suddenlyughed, a madugh, "You, a wasted cripple, I give you an inch and you think you¡¯re something? Let me tell you, Mr. Ye, if not for Qingyan¡¯s face, you wouldn¡¯t even have the right to enter this private room tonight."


    "Forget about this private room; you probably wouldn¡¯t even make it into the club¡¯s lobby before the security guards chase you out like a dog!"


    Silence!


    The bustling private room suddenly became as silent as death!

 Chapter 25: This kind of person won’t survive the second episode

    All eyes in the private room turned to this side, no one spoke, and there was even less intent to mediate.


    Thepanions from the orphanage now looked up to Yu Jie as their leader, after all, the guy had started his ownpany, was sessful in business, had luxury cars and houses, and was considered one of the most outstanding among them, as could be seen from the gathering he had organized tonight.


    In fact, tonight¡¯s gathering was meant to highlight andplement Yu Jie, especially knowing the situation with Hong Qingyan¡¯s ce of practice, this rtionship became even more ingenious.


    So, most people in the room looked at Ye Feng with faces of mockery and ridicule, an expression of schadenfreude.


    This disabled man, a man confined to a wheelchair, yet he had no self-awareness and even had the audacity to say that Yu Jie wasn¡¯t worthy of sharing a drink with him?


    "He¡¯s really arrogant, just a disabled man, even if he¡¯s the son-inw of the Hong Family, he¡¯s still a useless one at that. What¡¯s there to be arrogant about?" someone snorted disdainfully.


    "A person like this, if he were in a TV show, I¡¯m afraid wouldn¡¯t survive past the second episode."


    The private room was very quiet, so these words were particrly clear and grating, making the atmosphere suddenly tense.


    "Apologize!"


    Lin Caixia suddenly spoke, her voice stern, "I¡¯m talking to you, Mr. Ye, what did you mean by your words just now? Have some self-awareness. Apologize to Brother Jie immediately. Brother Jie is a forgiving and generous person, he won¡¯t take this personally with you!"


    Click!


    The door to the private room was suddenly opened, and Seventeen stood there like a guardian deity.


    Upon seeing this guy, Hong Qingyan immediately panicked, fearing that trouble was about to ensue.


    "Alright, in any case, we are allpanions from childhood, and today we are grateful for Yu Jie hosting us," Hong Qingyan quickly stepped forward to mediate, truly afraid that if Seventeen made a move, not killing one or two people probably wouldn¡¯t end things here.


    "Thanks? I¡¯m sorry, my brother Yu Jie doesn¡¯t need thanks, what he wants is an apology, an apology from that wheelchair-bound disabled man!"


    Lin Caixia shouted loudly, the heavily made-up woman, in order to tter Yu Jie, was truly shameless.


    Yu Jie stared coldly at Ye Feng without speaking, obviously, his intention was quite clear; he wanted the other party to apologize and make amends.


    He was, after all, a rising star in Jiangdu¡¯s business world, enjoying a small fame in his circle. How could he ce his face after being ridiculed like this?


    Seventeen remained silent and took a bold step forward, intending to enter.


    Ye Feng waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for Seventeen to take action.


    For Ye Feng, as a once-sovereign of his generation, magnificent and expansive at heart like the sun and moon, he had never really taken serious notice of these ants before him.


    If he were to rage andsh out over such ignorant words, taking lives in the process, what difference would there be between him and those violent thugs on the streets? Had that been the case, he certainly would not have earned the loyalty and affection of a hundred thousand Northern Border Soldiers willing toy down their lives and shed blood for him.


    Of course, Ye Feng¡¯s restraint wasn¡¯t out of fear. As the once Northern Border Sovereign, stained with the blood of battle, he had been surrounded by enemies several times his own on Heavenly Burial Mountain in the Northern Border. He led the Northern Border Soldiers bravely, ughtering the enemy until blood flowed and thend shattered. He had never known fear.


    Regrettably, those present had no idea that the young man sitting in the wheelchair was the same sovereign who alone guarded the Northern Border, striking fear into the hearts of the millions in the ferocious army of Mingbei Kingdom, not daring to offend.


    Suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, Yu Jie¡¯s phone rang at that moment. He casually checked it and his expression changed slightly, probably because he wanted to impress his fellow orphanagepanions.


    So he announced loudly, "Mr. Chu Xionghe, Boss Chu of the Chu Group, is calling me."


    Yu Jie did indeed run a smallpany of his own, barely making a million a year, and among these orphanagepanions, that made him quite sessful. But in the eyes of Jiangdu¡¯s grand families like the Chu Group, he was nothing but a small shrimp.


    Whether Chu Xionghe had kept his business card, Yu Jie didn¡¯t know, but he had always kept the contact information.


    Now that Chu Xionghe was calling him personally, it inadvertently elevated his status, making Yu Jie feel as though he had already entered the upper echelons of Jiangdu society.


    "The big boss of Chu Group personally calling you, Brother Jie?"


    Lin Caixia was also taken aback, and quickly reacted, "Brother Jie, you take the call first. The other party is a major group president, and even the Yingge Beautiful Club belongs to the Chu Family. The call is important. Also, everyone please, maintain silence and don¡¯t disturb Brother Jie¡¯s business conversation."


    From her tone, it was as if Yu Jie was discussing a deal worth billions with the big boss of the Chu Group.


    Hearing this, Yu Jie straightened his back significantly, and an involuntary smug look appeared on his face.


    "Hello, Mr. Chu, how are you?" Yu Jie directly pressed the answer button in the hall.


    "Hmm, is this Yu Jie?" came the voice of Chu Xionghe from the other end.


    "Yes, it¡¯s me, Yu Jie. Mr. Chu, it¡¯s unbelievable that you¡¯re calling me," Yu Jie said with a smile.


    "Are you at the Yingge Clubhouse, in the Tian character private room?"


    "Yes, yes, I¡¯m at your clubhouse, hosting some friends." Yu Jie nodded repeatedly.


    "Alright, I¡¯lle over now and will be there shortly."


    "You¡¯re saying Mr. Chu ising in person? You mean to attend my g yourself..."


    Yu Jie hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Chu Xionghe already hung up the phone.


    "My goodness, I never expected the president of Chu Group to personally attend my g; this is such a delightful surprise." Yu Jie was overjoyed.


    "Brother Jie, Boss Chu just said he¡¯ll be here soon, so you need to get yourself ready right away. Oh, and you should go to the entrance to wee him." Lin Caixia reminded him.


    "Right, right, you¡¯re absolutely right, I should wait at the entrance!"


    "Brother Jie, I¡¯lle with you." Lin Caixia said with a smile, cleverly looping her arm through his.


    Yu Jie didn¡¯t refuse. Having adypanion by his side could indeed slightly raise his status.


    At Seventeen¡¯s signal from Ye Feng, he had already moved aside. As soon as Yu Jie pushed the door open, he immediately saw Chu Xionghe walking in.


    "Mr. Chu, it¡¯s really you! I¡¯m so pleased to meet you. I¡¯m honored by your presence at my g." Yu Jie hurriedly extended his hand.


    Chu Xionghe shook hands with him perfunctorily, then asked, "By the way, I hope there weren¡¯t any unpleasant incidents in the private room?"


    "No, they are all my friends; how could there be any unpleasantness? Come Mr. Chu, please,e inside." Yu Jie quickly stepped aside, gesturing with his hand in a weing manner.


    By then, Chu Xionghe had already noticed Ye Feng, but Ye Feng did not look at him, not even giving him a nce.


    Uncertain and apprehensive, Chu Xionghe didn¡¯t dare greet him and asked, "Did you just say that everyone here is your friend?"


    "Yes, they are all my good friends." Yu Jie nodded repeatedly, even though he had no idea why someone from the Chu Family had made such a sudden visit.


    But that wasn¡¯t important; what mattered was that since the other party hade, if they could just make the talks pleasant and get acquainted, even a tiny bit of benefit from Chu Group could be very useful to him.


    Chu Xionghe seemed thoughtful for a moment and nodded, "It seems Mr. Yu is well-connected. I hope my unannounced visit hasn¡¯t disturbed you? If I have been too presumptuous, please don¡¯t take offense."


    In fact, his words were meant for Ye Feng, but the others present could not understand.


    Yu Jie was thrilled and repeatedly said, "Not at all, Mr. Chu. Your willingness to grace us with your presence is an honor; we¡¯re more than weing. Please, Mr. Chu, this way." He said, leading him to a quieter area with sofas.


    Chu Xionghe hesitated for a moment. He originally wanted to greet Ye Feng, but seeing that he was beingpletely ignored, he didn¡¯t dare to approach rashly. However, seeing that the atmosphere in the private room seemed fine and that there were no incidents, his nerves, which had been on edge, rxed slightly.


    "Let¡¯s go." Ye Feng couldn¡¯t be bothered with the situation, not showing any response to Chu Xionghe¡¯s arrival.


    Hong Qingyan nodded and began to push the wheelchair out.


    "Stop, who said you could just leave like that!"


    Lin Caixia sharply eximed, quickly stepping forward to say, "Even if you¡¯re leaving, you should at least say goodbye to my brother Yu Jie and apologize to him, don¡¯t you even understand that?"


    Seeing this, Chu Xionghe instantly tensed up, hurriedly asking, "What¡¯s going on, what happened there?"


    Yu Jie chuckled and said, "You tter me, Mr. Chu; it¡¯s nothing really, just that the man in the wheelchair is a useless cripple, not worth worrying about."


    Chu Xionghe stood up abruptly and quickly walked over, asking, "What happened?"


    Before Hong Qingyan could speak, Lin Caixia rushed to say, "Here¡¯s what happened, Mr. Chu. Brother Jie just wanted to toast the man in the wheelchair, but who knew that this waste would be so ungrateful, refusing the drink and even iming Brother Jie wasn¡¯t worthy to pour wine for him."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Yu Jie followed over and said with a forced smile, "Mr. Chu, you make meugh. It¡¯s really nothing; just an ignorant cripple. Maybe he¡¯s a little twisted inside because of his disability. I didn¡¯t stoop to his level, just thought to have him apologize and that would be the end of it."


    "I see."


    Chu Xionghe nodded thoughtfully as he took the measure of Ye Feng.


    Almost in an instant, Chu Xionghe made a decision. After a slight pause, he smiled at Yu Jie and said, "Since Mr. Ye is unwilling to apologize, let me do it instead. How about I make amends to you on his behalf?"


    "This..." Yu Jie was stupefied, standing still like a stone, at a loss for words.


    Without waiting for a response, Chu Xionghe walked straight to Ye Feng, bowed with hands sped, and said, "I¡¯m truly sorry, Mr. Ye. I never imagined that in my own club someone would be so ignorant as to offend and insult you. It¡¯s my fault for not being a good host. Please don¡¯t hold it against me, Mr. Ye."


    "But rest assured, Mr. Ye, I will make sure you receive a satisfying resolution for tonight¡¯s incident."


    Chu Xionghe¡¯s actions were quite abrupt, leaving everyone who witnessed it dumbfounded, their eyes wide open and faces filled with shock.


    Gulp...


    Yu Jie felt a chill rising from the soles of his feet to his back; he knew that tonight, he might be in big trouble.

 Chapter 26 You’re blocking my way

    The incident happened so suddenly that everyone present failed to react in time and couldn¡¯t understand why the president of the Chu Group was behaving this way.


    "This¡­ What exactly is going on, Mr. Chu? There must be some misunderstanding here," Lin Caixia was frightened to the point of trembling all over.


    Originally, she had intended to please Yu Jie by oppressing this fellow in the wheelchair, but now it seemed that she had only made matters worse.


    "Misunderstanding?" Mr. Chu Xionghe let out a coldugh and said, "I did not make any mistake, old man Chu has made no error."


    Chu Xionghe once again bowed to Ye Feng and said, "Mr. Ye, do you have any instructions regarding this matter?"


    Ye Feng¡¯s face remained expressionless as he replied indifferently, "Deal with it as you see fit."


    Upon hearing this, Chu Xionghe instantly breathed a sigh of relief, then slowly turned and walked toward Yu Jie.


    Without any warning, he pped Yu Jie with a loud smack.


    Yu Jie wanted to dodge, and of course, he could have, but he didn¡¯t dare to and had to obediently take the p, his face swelling up on one side immediately.


    "Who do you think you are? Daring to openly insult Mr. Ye and even shamelessly demanding an apology from him? Do you not know that Mr. Ye is my guest, not just any guest but an honored one?"


    Mr. Chu Xionghe berated Yu Jie fiercely, probably not feeling satisfied with just that, he promptly kicked Yu Jie to the ground.


    Yu Jie waspletely soaked by the red wine that had spilled all over the floor due to the broken wine ss, looking as wretched as could be.


    "Boss Chu, there must be some misunderstanding..." Yu Jie wailed.


    "Misunderstanding?" Mr. Chu Xionghe nodded and said, "Indeed, there is a misunderstanding, and since there is one, it should be exined clearly."


    Yu Jie wanted to plead and exin because he knew that if he begged Hong Qingyan for mercy, he might be able to escape this disaster.


    Although he had no idea who the person in the wheelchair was, he could see that this fellow was on very good terms with Hong Qingyan.


    But Chu Xionghe was determined to use him as a lesson to show his loyalty to Ye Feng.


    "I remember, your littlepany seems to have business dealings with a subsidiary of my Chu Family, don¡¯t you? From this moment on, that business is gone, and let me tell you, having offended Mr. Ye, if your littlepany cannd another order in the future, the Chu Family will turn our signboard upside down!"


    Upon hearing this, Yu Jie felt as if his bones hade apart, copsing to the ground.


    All was lost, everything was over¡­


    Yu Jiey on the ground like a dead dog, knowing better than anyone that for a business empire like the Chu Family, snuffing out his smallpany would be easier than crushing an ant.


    The people around didn¡¯t dare to so much as breathe heavily seeing Yu Jie, who was once so high and mighty, being reduced to nothing more than a wriggling worm because of a single word from the president of the Chu Group.


    This was all too dramatic!


    Who exactly was the person in the wheelchair that even the president of the Chu Group had to be so courteous? Who was he?


    However, Mr. Chu Xionghe couldn¡¯t care less about Yu Jie, who was copsed on the ground. He turned around and walked back to Ye Feng, bowing again, "Mr. Ye, are you satisfied with the way I handled this?"


    Ye Feng¡¯s face showed no emotion, with none of the night¡¯s events provoking even the slightest ripple in his heart. ustomed to grand battles and strife, he often found such petty squabbles boring and uninteresting.


    "Enough, considering the dinner tonight, where the vegetarian dishes were quite decent, let¡¯s give him a way out." Finally, Tang Feng spoke up.


    "Yes, Mr. Ye, since you mentioned giving him a way out, the Chu Family shall spare him from total ruin," Mr. Chu Xionghe nodded repeatedly.


    Ye Feng suddenly felt a bit listless and waved to Hong Qingyan.


    Hong Qingyan immediately understood and began to push the wheelchair out.


    But all of a sudden, Lin Caixia rushed over and knelt down with a loud thump, kneeling quite audibly.


    "I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Ye, I was ignorant and offended you. It¡¯s like a flood hitting the Dragon King Temple¡ªI, the big brother, have offended you, but I hope you don¡¯t take it to heart. By the way, big brother Ye, I humiliated you earlier by calling you a cripple and I feel extremely guilty in my heart."


    As Lin Caixia spoke, she bravely lifted her head and looked at Ye Feng, saying, "If big brother Ye doesn¡¯t mind, to make up for my ignorance and mistakes just now, I am willing to be your personal attendant from now on. I¡¯ll take good care of you, and as long as you don¡¯t despise me, from now on I¡¯ll be at your service."


    After saying this, the heavily made-up woman didn¡¯t forget to wink and make eyes at Ye Feng.


    The people around almost felt like vomiting upon seeing this. They had seen shameless people before, but never anyone quite as shameless as this.


    Hong Qingyan also felt disgusted and quite repulsed, but the kind-hearted girl said nothing, as she looked at Ye Feng, she was also very curious as to how he would choose.


    Seriously speaking, Lin Caixia did have some looks to her, and her intentions were very clear with what she just said. If Ye Feng were to agree, then this woman would be his. Such an eagerly offered opportunity would be hard for many men in this world to resist.


    However, it¡¯s too bad that although Ye Feng was indeed a man, he was by no means an ordinary one!


    Ye Feng only said indifferently, "A good dog doesn¡¯t block the way; you are blocking my path."


    It was just this sentence, Lin Caixia, who a second ago had still been making eyes and gestures, deted like a punctured ball in the next.


    Once Ye Feng finished speaking, he waved his hand, and Hong Qingyan, pushing the wheelchair, left the private room, with Seventeen closely following behind outside the door.


    "I¡¯ll see Mr. Ye out." Chu Xionghe came to his senses and hurriedly chased after them.


    The private room remained eerily silent, with no one speaking. The atmosphere seemed still oppressive, as someone kindly walked over to help Yu Jie up from the floor.


    However, what everyone did not expect was that the first thing Yu Jie did after getting up was to rush towards Lin Caixia and p her to the ground.


    "You bitch, you shameless bitch, actually trying to ingratiate yourself with that cripple right in front of me, you really act as if I don¡¯t exist, don¡¯t you!"


    Yu Jie roared hoarsely, continually punching and kicking.


    Watching this scene, everyone shook their heads. Just now, in the face of Chu Xionghe, he didn¡¯t dare to let out a peep, but now, with the man gone, he took out his anger on someone else - this guy waspletely weak, bullying the weak and fearing the strong.


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng had already reached the entrance of the clubhouse, with Chu Xionghe respectfully leading the way in front of him.


    Seeing his behavior, Ye Feng frowned and said, "I have a question."


    Chu Xionghe nodded and said, "Mr. Ye, if you have any questions, pleasemand."


    Ye Feng stared at him intently and said word by word, "I killed your son, destroyed your father, we share an enmity that cannot be resolved under the same sky. Yet now, you treat me with great respect; do you not hate me in your heart, do you not want to kill me and seek revenge?"


    His gaze was sharp as a knife, piercing through the person in front of him, and his words directly targeted the deepest parts of the man¡¯s heart.


    Chu Xionghe was silent; after a long while, in the darkness of the night, a long sigh could be heard.


    "Since you¡¯ve put it this way, I have nothing to hide."


    Chu Xionghe let out a long sigh, then continued, "To be honest, I do hate. The enmity of killing my son and father, we share a hatred that cannot coexist under the same sky. How could I not hate? Butst night, I personally sought out that Iron Face, Yan Xu."


    "What did he say?" asked Ye Feng.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "He told me something about your identity, very vaguely, because even he doesn¡¯t know much. However, he said one thing I remember distinctly. He said if you don¡¯t want the Chu Family annihted, then stop thinking about revenge."


    After speaking, Chu Xionghe let out a bitterugh, then added, "Actually, as early as the night at the Hong Family¡¯s gate, Yan Xu had already warned my father; it¡¯s just regrettable that I was not present at the time. It¡¯s toote for regrets now. But speaking of which, I¡¯m also to me for not educating my son properly.


    He was the one who first plotted to murder you, and my father was even more foolish¡ªit was his idea to kidnap Hong Qingyan. All of this is retribution that the Chu Family has brought upon itself."


    Ye Feng only responded: "That Yan Xu did not lie."


    Chu Xionghe let out a wry smile and said, "Well, I know Mr. Ye muste from an extraordinary background, but I would rather not know more now. Knowing too much can cause trouble, and after living for most of my life, I realize that there is always someone better. It¡¯s just too bad that my father didn¡¯t understand this..."


    "I won¡¯t see Mr. Ye out any further, have a good journey!" Chu Xionghe finished speaking and turned to walk back into the clubhouse.


    Ye Feng thought for a moment, then suddenly took out a token from his bosom and tossed it over.


    Chu Xionghe caught it reflexively and looked at the ancient bronze token, upon which was engraved a Divine Dragon, partially hidden amongst clouds.


    "Hidden Dragon Token? What is this?"


    "You don¡¯t need to know about this thing, just like you said before, knowing too much can bring trouble. Remember, don¡¯t show this token to just anyone!"


    Ye Feng¡¯s gaze was extremely stern, and he said word by word, "Considering your honesty tonight, I will give your Chu Family a chance. Three years from now, have the boy who wore the blue T-shirt that night bring this token to see me."


    "In five years, I will teach him Kung Fu. Give him five years to train, and after five years he will have one opportunity to challenge and kill me."


    "This..." Chu Xionghe was stunned, his mind unable to grasp the implication immediately.


    "Of course, I do not offer this without conditions. If after five years he can kill me, not only would I not regret it, I would actually be happy. But if he fails, he must submit to me and serve as my Attendant Guard for a lifetime."


    As Ye Feng left, he added just before getting into the car, "Don¡¯t think that serving me is something shameful; none of my subordinates are useless. If he qualifies to be my attendant, even just as a guard, it¡¯s not impossible for your Chu Family to be a first-ss power in Jiangdu, or even in the whole Southern River Region Jiangnan Province."


    After saying this, Ye Feng got into the car and drove away.


    In the dark night, Chu Xionghe was left in astonished disarray: "Hidden Dragon Order? Five years to train Martial Arts? An Attendant Guard, just a guard, could elevate the Chu Family to be a leading power in Jiangdu, even potentially in the entire Southern River Region Jiangnan Province?"


    Chu Xionghe was dumbstruck for a long, long time, finally letting out a long sigh, "Ye Feng, who exactly are you..."


    Ye Feng was not a divine being; he did this primarily in consideration of Chu Xionghe¡¯s honesty, but more importantly, during his visit to the Chu Family that night, he spotted a good candidate, a martial arts prodigy with an excellent Innate Bone.


    It was after hearing Chu Xionghe¡¯s words that he spontaneously thought of this matter.


    Of course, what Ye Feng did not foresee was that his casual action tonight, out of appreciation for talent, would one day create a legendary figure of unmatched renown¡ªa deputy of the Northern Border Sovereign who would strike fear into those dark forces of the world.

 Chapter 27 Not Worthy Enough to Carry Someone’s Shoes

    After returning to the Hong Family estate from the Yingge Clubhouse, the night was deep, and the moon hung high on the branches.


    However, the reception hall in front of the Hong estate was still brilliantly lit.


    Old Master Hong had not gone to bed and was personally keepingpany with a guest in the living room, which suggested that the guest held a high status.


    Ye Feng was unconcerned about these matters and nned to have Hong Qingyan push him back to the rear courtyard attic.


    Just then, Hong Zhenguo hurriedly came out, his tone somewhat solemn, "Mr. Ye, a guest is looking for you, someone from the Martial Alliance."


    Ye Feng¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he asked indifferently, "Someone from the Martial Alliance? From the Jiangdu Martial Alliance or the Martial Alliance of the Imperial Capital?"


    Hong Zhenguo said with a smile, "Naturally, from the Jiangdu Martial Alliance."


    Ye Feng said, "I¡¯m a bit tired tonight. I¡¯ll go back to the Inner Courtyard to rest. Whatever it is, let theme back tomorrow."


    With that, he waved his hand, signaling Hong Qingyan to push his wheelchair back to the Inner Courtyard.


    Hong Zhenguo couldn¡¯t say much more. He knew the identity of the man before him, but he couldn¡¯t afford to offend the people from the Jiangdu Martial Alliance, so he could only offer a bitter smile.


    Just then, a cold shout suddenly came from the hall, "What a grand scene indeed. Ie to your door in person, and yet you dare to ignore me. Who gave you such courage?"


    Although the voice came out, the person did note out; the one who shouted coldly still sat upright in his seat, maintaining a very straight posture, exuding a chilling and majestic air.


    Ye Feng¡¯s face showed no expression, but he looked in the direction of the voice and saw the other¡¯s sullen profile, the high, hooked nose, and the sharp eyes.


    He appeared to be around fifty years old, with a small braid, dressed in gray-white martial arts robes and cloth shoes.


    Most eye-catching were his hands, which were very wide, their knuckles obviously twisted, and covered with calluses.


    Ye Feng narrowed his eyes slightly; he knew that the other party probably practiced an external martial art like the Iron Sand Palm, and judging from the calluses on the hands, it had been refined over many years.


    Hong Zhenguo quickly stepped forward, exining in a low voice, "Mr. Ye, the one inside is the current Vice Alliance Hierarch of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance, Mr. Lei Zaiyan."


    Ye Feng waved his hand broadly, "Back to the Inner Courtyard to rest!"


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Crack!


    A crisp sound of something shattering came from the hall; Mr. Lei Zaiyan, the Vice Alliance Hierarch of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance, suddenly gripped the chair and forcefully crushed the sturdy mahogany armrest into fragments.


    Hong Zhenguo¡¯s face changed; he knew that not only was this Mr. Lei a Vice Alliance Hierarch of the Martial Alliance, but he was also from one of the three great ancient families of the Jiangdu ¡ª the Lei Family.


    Ye Feng did not turn his head,pletely ignoring this so-called Vice Alliance Hierarch.


    Lei Zaiyan could not hold back any longer, and with a whoosh, he stood up from his chair, quickly charging out of the hall, followed by two attendants from the Martial Alliance.


    "You¡¯re the one called Ye Feng, right?"


    Lei Zaiyan said in a heavy voice with a cold huff, "You have injured my Martial Alliance disciples one after another,mitting heinous crimes. The Alliance Hierarch knows you might have some skills, but you think you can challenge the Martial Alliance with that? I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯re not qualified!"


    At that point, Lei Zaiyan gave Hong Zhenguo a re and continued, "I¡¯ll give you a chance. For Hong Zhenguo¡¯s sake, kneel down and kowtow to admit your mistake right now. I can be generous and may let bygones be bygones!"


    Lei Zaiyan looked has christian with arrogance, standing atop the stairs, exuding a condescending attitude.


    Ye Feng suddenly stopped and stared coldly at him, "Why hasn¡¯t the Great Grandmaster of the Martial Alliancee in person?"


    Lei Zaiyanughed, a coldugh, "To deal with a greenhorn like you, why would our Alliance Hierarch Great Grandmaster need to take action himself?"


    Ye Feng alsoughed, shaking his head, "You should feel lucky that you haven¡¯t reached the realm of a Great Grandmaster."


    "What do you mean by that?" Lei Zaiyan shouted coldly.


    "What I mean is, a mere ninth stage martial artist with the strength of colored ribbon, an ant-like existence, doesn¡¯t even deserve for me to lift a finger against!"


    Having said that, Ye Feng suddenly waved his hand, "Break his hands and throw him out!"


    As his words fell, Seventeen moved, darting forward like a lightning-fast tiger.


    Lei Zaiyan¡¯s gaze sharpened, knowing he had encountered a tough opponent, but before he could even react, his hands were already seized by someone else.


    Then with a snap, his two prized wrists were twisted and broken, and afterward, his entire body was tossed out of the courtyard like a dead dog.


    Without turning his head, Ye Feng immediately wheeled himself back to the Inner Courtyard. To him, a former King of the Northern Border, this so-called ancient Jiangdu family and the Vice Alliance Hierarch of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance were utterly worthless!


    However, Hong Zhenguo was stunned, not knowing what to say as he looked at the figure in the wheelchair. He wanted to rush out to see what had happened, but after some thought, he restrained himself. The grudge between the two parties was already formed, and no amount of mediation would help now.


    Lei Zaiyan was an elder of the Lei Family, one of the ancient families, and not only would the Martial Alliance not let this go, but the Lei Family would certainly not take this lying down.


    After Ye Feng returned to the Inner Courtyard, Hong Qingyan personally helped him onto the bed.


    She then left, and besides the main bedroom, there was a side bedroom where Hong Qingyan usually lived.


    At this moment, outside in the courtyard, Lei Zaiyan finally managed to get up from the ground with the help of two attendants, enduring the excruciating pain of his broken arm and gritting his teeth in rage.


    "Ye Feng, I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯re a dead man, and so is the Hong Family. How dare you treat me like this, you¡¯re all dead, ah my hand..."


    Hearing this from inside the courtyard, Hong Zhenguo could only shake his head and sigh.


    Hong Yuting stepped out and said coldly, "Grandfather, seeing how things have already escted to this point, involving both the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu and the ancient Lei Family, do you still n to shield our Hong Family¡¯s crippled son-inw?"


    Zhang Yuman also said, "The Lei Family is one of the Three Great Ancient Families with formidable power that our Hong Family can¡¯tpare to. Moreover, their family trains in martial arts, and what¡¯s more important is that the Lei Family¡¯s influence is not just confined to our Jiangdu."


    Hong Wei followed with persuasion, "It is said that the Lei Family of Jiangdu and the Jiang Family, which was formed in the Southern River Region Jiangnan, are rted by marriage. Grandfather, there should be a limit to your coddling of that crippled son-inw, don¡¯t drag the Hong Family into ruin."


    Hong Zhenguo scoffed, "The insignificant Lei Family of Jiangdu, even if it were the Jiang Family of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, what I am currently worried about is the Martial Alliance!"


    Of course, what he was truly worried about was not the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu, but that of the Imperial Capital. In the eyes of that person, a trivial Martial Alliance of Jiangdu was nothing, but if it were the Martial Alliance of the Imperial Capital, that would be an entirely different matter.


    However, Hong Zhenguo did not voice this concern, as it would be pointless to discuss it with these few.


    "Grandfather, at this time, are you still deluded and intending to..." Hong Yuting wanted to continue.


    "Enough!" Hong Zhenguo roared angrily, interrupting her, "I have my own judgment on this matter; there¡¯s no need for you to interfere!"


    After speaking, Hong Zhenguo, waving his hand dismissively, walked into the Inner Courtyard. He was indeed a bit worried¡ªif the situation continued to ferment and involved the Martial Alliance of the Imperial Capital, could the esteemed king still withstand?


    Watching the old master¡¯s silhouette disappearing into the night, Hong Yuting clenched her teeth in anger and frustration, "The old fool, really beyond help. It was bad enough with the Chu Family, and now the Lei Family has gotten involved. If this keeps up, our Hong Family will definitely be dragged down by that worthless son-inw."


    Suddenly, Hong Wei said, "Sister, let me tell you some good news¡ªYoung Master Jiang Tianlong from the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province ising to our Jiangdu tomorrow."


    "Young Master Jiang of the Jiang Family ising?" Zhang Yuman¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this, "The Jiang Family is a prestigious family in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, even the Lei Family of Jiangdu has to curry favor with them. Yu Ting, do you have any... thoughts about this Young Master Jiang?"


    Before she could finish, Hong Yuting shyly interrupted, "Mom, can you stop being annoying?"


    Hong Weiughed on the side, "It seems you¡¯re not aware, Mom. The reason Young Master Jiang ising to our Jiangdu tomorrow is entirely because of my sister."


    "Because of your sister, is that so?"


    Zhang Yuman¡¯s face gradually showed a blossoming smile, "That means Young Master Jiang has thoughts about Yu Ting. That¡¯s wonderful; the Jiang Family is a prestigious n, and only someone like Young Master Jiang deserves our Yu Ting."


    Speaking of this, Zhang Yuman did not forget to nce at the Inner Courtyard and scoffed coldly, "What¡¯s Ye Feng anyway? A cripple confined to a wheelchair and he dares to marry my daughter? Compared to Young Master Jiang, he is probably not even fit to carry his shoes."


    Hong Wei snorted, "Once Young Master Jiang arrives tomorrow, I¡¯ll set up an event. Then, our Hong Family¡¯s worthless son-inw will realize that there are always greater people in the world!"


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng was already sitting cross-legged on the bed, bathed in the bright moonlighting through the window. With his hands forming an ancient Dharma Seal, he entered into a state of Breathing Technique.


    Soon, a misty white fog gathered around his body, and even the breath he exhaled took on the shape of arrows, lingering for a long time.


    Shortly after,yers of halos appeared above Ye Feng¡¯s head, colorful and numerous¡ªupon closer count, there were as many as five distinct colors.


    At this moment, if a Great Grandmaster in martial arts were present, witnessing this scene would surely be astounding.


    Five Qi Returning to Origin!


    This was a phenomenon that would appear after a Great Grandmaster in martial arts refined their Qi Force to a profound level¡ªfive Qi surging toward the origin, endlessly generating!


    The next level beyond Five Qi Returning to Origin was Nine Return to One, and achieving Nine Return to One signifies Open Aperture.


    Once Open Aperture is sessful, it signifies stepping into the legendary Realm of the Martial King!


    "Five Qi Returning to Origin, finally restored to the Five Qi Realm. It seems I¡¯m not far from my previous peak, Nine Return to One," Ye Feng thought to himself.


    Suddenly, Ye Feng opened his eyes, and from his gaze, a golden light shot forth.


    Before the incident, his Inner Strength was Nine Return to One. Reaching this level of Unity, he could be considered a Half-Step Martial King. At just over twenty years old, reaching the Half-Step Martial King was already a rare existence in martial arts.


    "I was already at Nine Return to One in my early twenties, stuck at the Half-Step Martial King for a long four years, hitting a bottleneck that was extremely difficult to ovee. I wonder, after this great disaster, through death and rebirth, breaking and standing anew, can I manage to Open Aperture sessfully and step into the legendary Realm of the Martial King?"


    Ye Feng¡¯s eyes flickered with thought, looking out at the bright moonlight, deep in contemtion.


    If he had achieved the legendary status of the Martial King back then, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up being hunted by the Eighteen Grandmasters of the Imperial Capital and fleeing a thousand miles.


    "Given the current situation, I will continue to lie low until the day I achieve the Martial King status¡ªthat will be the time to return to the Imperial Capital," Ye Feng resolved with determination.

 Chapter 28: Even the Martial Alliance Must Show Some Respect

    The next morning, as dawn broke and his martial arts practice waspleted, Ye Feng rose early from bed.


    Today, he suddenly decided to go out, but his destination was not the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu, but the Fu Family of Jiangdu.


    To the majority of themon folk, the Fu Family of Jiangdu might be unheard of, but for someone in high society to not know of the Fu Family¡¯s reputation, that would be foolish.


    Jiangdu had Three Great Ancient Families; the so-called ancient families had at least a hundred years of legacy and were martial arts families. These three families had suppressed Jiangdu for many years with their deeply rooted power.


    The Fu Family, like the Lei Family, was one of the Three Great Ancient Families of Jiangdu.


    And the reason for Ye Feng¡¯s visit today was because he had once been a foster son of the Fu Family.


    At the age of three, within Ye Feng¡¯s hazy memory, it was the Fu Family elder Fu Zuoming who had taken him from a garbage bin on the street and fostered him until the age of fifteen. Then, due to an unexpected turn of events, he was chosen by the former Northern Border King and subsequently entered the Northern Border.


    That departurested a whole ten years!


    Initially, Ye Feng thought that he would spend his entire life guarding the bordends of the Northern Border and would never return. However, fate had yed tricks on him, and now, he was back.


    Having returned, it was only proper, both emotionally and logically, to visit his foster father, after all, Fu Zuoming of the Fu Family had shown him great kindness in raising him.


    "Big Brother Ye, are you saying we¡¯re going to the Fu Family? Which Fu Family?" Hong Qingyan rolled out in her wheelchair from the Inner Courtyard, a look of confusion on her face.


    Ye Feng smiled and retorted, "How many Fu Families could there be in Jiangdu?"


    Hong Qingyan, of course, knew which Fu Family it was, and it was precisely because she knew that she was perplexed, "But Big Brother Ye, the Fu Family of Jiangdu is not just any..."


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t wait for her to finish and waved his hand, "No need for more words, just go."


    Hong Qingyan did not ask further, as she was not one to speak much anyway.


    As for Seventeen, he would say even less. As an attendant guard, if Ye Feng said to go east, he would never go west.


    It was only after Ye Feng and his twopanions got into the car and left that Hong Yuting and Hong Wei suddenly emerged from a corner.


    "Sister, I didn¡¯t mishear just now, did I? That crippled son-inw, he just said he¡¯s going to the Fu Family, the Fu Family of Jiangdu?"


    Hong Wei blinked, puzzled, "The Fu Family of Jiangdu, on par with the Lei Family, is one of the Three Great Ancient Families. Could it be that this Ye surnamed waste of a son-inwes from the Fu Family? But that¡¯s not right either. He doesn¡¯t share the Fu surname."


    Hong Yuting watched the departing car¡¯s tail lights with a sneer, "What does it matter where this useless son-inw goes? Even if he really does have a connection with the Fu Family of Jiangdu, so what? He just crippled Lei Zaiyanst night and also offended the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu. Do you think the Fu Family can protect him?"


    "That¡¯s also true, it¡¯s said that the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu is controlled behind the scenes by these three great ancient families, and the Fu Family of Jiangdu is just one of them," said Hong Wei.


    Hong Yuting¡¯s mouth curled up in mockery, "Let¡¯s not even mention the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu. If the young master of the Jiang Family from the Southern River Region Jiangnan arrives, I suspect the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu would have to show him some respect, right?"


    "Exactly, I almost forgot. I have to go pick him up at the airportter. Jiang Tianlong will be arriving soon, and tonight there¡¯s going to be quite a show," he said eagerly.


    Hong Wei nodded repeatedly, then added, "You know, sister, you should dress up nicely today. Whether our Hong Family can connect with the Jiang Family from Southern River Region Jiangnan or not, we¡¯ll see tonight."


    Hong Yuting rolled her eyes and sneered, "Don¡¯t worry, do you see who your sister is? The number one beauty of Jiangdu, would I not have even that bit of skill?"


    The siblingsughed and talked as if Hong Yuting was about to join the illustrious household of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province and be a phoenix on a branch.


    Now back to Ye Feng, the car meandered through most of Jiangdu and then entered the old city district.


    In Ye Feng¡¯s memory, the Fu Family was located in the old city district, and he wondered if the family had moved their base over the years.


    However, for ancient families like these, even if they move away, the ancestral house would hardly be altered because it involves the issues of foundations and Feng Shui.


    This old district is far from decay; tall ne trees line both sides of the clean streets, nked by old Western-style houses with quaint and unique designs.


    The car finally stopped at a corner, where a row of pale yellow ssical Western-style homes stood. If one looked carefully, they would notice that these old houses are actually interconnected.


    In such a ce, the old Western-style houses were already priceless. Those that were connected like this indicated that their owners were extremely wealthy and noble, beyond the realm of the ordinary.


    "It appears I am not mistaken, this is indeed the ce."


    Ye Feng chuckled lightly, his gaze drifting across the familiar surroundings as fragments of his childhood sporadically surfaced from the depths of his mind.


    After getting out of the car, Seventeen went to knock on the door and announce their arrival. Soon after, a tall and handsome young man emerged from inside.


    "I was informed there is someone named Ye Feng among the visitors, may I ask who that is?" the handsome young man asked as he stepped out of the house.


    Looking at him, Ye Feng¡¯s stern face suddenly softened with a smile, "Big Brother Fu Shen, how do you not recognize me?


    The young man from the Fu Family, Fu Shen, gave Ye Feng a careful look and his face suddenly brightened with surprise and excitement.


    "Ye Feng? Are you Third Brother Ye Feng, is it truly you?" Fu Shen said, hastily rushing forward with an inexplicable joy permeating him.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ye Feng said, "It¡¯s been ten years, Big Brother, I trust you¡¯ve been well. By the way, how is Foster Father doing? Is he in good health?"


    A shadow momentarily passed across Fu Shen¡¯s eyes as he waved his hand and said, "Let¡¯s not talk about that just yet,e inside and we can talk in detail."


    It was only then that Fu Shen realized that his Third Brother was sitting in a wheelchair.


    Fu Shen¡¯s brows furrowed, and he immediately demanded, "Third Brother, what happened here? Why are you in a wheelchair? Could it be your legs..."


    Ye Feng smiled faintly, "It¡¯s nothing serious; I was injured by someone¡¯s scheme, which resulted in the loss of my legs."


    Fu Shen became furious, huffing, "Who would be so audacious as to harm you and break your legs? Tell me, and I, your Second Brother, will seek justice for you."


    Ye Feng waved his hand and smiled, "Let¡¯s not talk about this for now, anyway, how about Foster Father? Is he at home?"


    Ye Feng had a close rtionship with Fu Shen since childhood, both of them having been adopted sons taken in by Fu Zuoming.


    Their foster father, Fu Zuoming, never married and, in his middle age, took in three foster sons and one foster daughter sessively.


    Ye Feng was the third, while Fu Shen was second. The four siblings always got along harmoniously, especially the eldest, Fu Tian, who took great care of them. Despite being adopted and not rted by blood, they were as close as true siblings born to the same parents.


    Entering through the iron gate into the Inner Courtyard, a tall and graceful woman in white hurried out from inside.


    "Third Brother, it really is you, you¡¯vee back?" Thedy had an oval face and a graceful figure, with stunning beauty; she was Fu Zi, the foster daughter of Fu Zuoming.


    A doting smile crept onto Ye Feng¡¯s face, "It¡¯s me, Third Brother. I never imagined the sniveling little girl from the past would grow up so much."


    Still only a girl of eighteen or neen, Fu Zi suddenly burst into tears.


    "Third Brother, your legs... are they really gone? Foster Father and Big Brother are dead, and now you¡¯ve ended up like this."


    Upon hearing this, Ye Feng¡¯s expression abruptly changed, "What did you say, Foster Father and Big Brother are dead?"

 Chapter 29: Offering Your Head as a Sacrifice

    Ye Feng¡¯s expression shook, this news was like a bolt from the blue for him.


    "My foster father has always been in good health, and he started practicing martial arts every day since we were very young. His kung fu was also quite good. How did my foster father die?"


    "Three years ago, he was beaten to death!" Fu Shen stood in the hall, his fists clenched tightly, gritting his teeth with rage.


    "Beaten to death? What exactly happened? The Fu Family in Jiangdu is, after all, one of the Three Great Ancient Families. Who would dare to do such a thing? Who has the capability to do it, and how did my older brother die?"


    Ye Feng was extremely agitated, and if one looked closely, they would see that the steel wheelchair he was grasping had even been deformed by his grip.


    Fu Zi angrily said, "The person who beat our foster father to death belongs to the Lei Family of Jiangdu, one of the Three Great Ancient Families!"


    "The Lei Family of Jiangdu? Could it be Lei Zaiyan?" Killing intent shed in Ye Feng¡¯s eyes.


    As the proud Northern Border Sovereign, his mind was extraordinarily broad. He had always maintained hisposure even as Mount Tai crumbled before him, but now, upon hearing the news of his foster father¡¯s demise, he could no longer maintain his usualposure and calm.


    Fu Shen shook his head and said, "It wasn¡¯t that dog Lei Zaiyan. He is no match for our foster father. It was another mysterious expert from the Lei Family, who is said to be a Great Grandmaster."


    Fu Zi coldly snorted, "This mysterious expert is not necessarily from the Lei Family. It is very likely that he is a mastermind from the Jiang Family."


    "The Jiang Family? Which Jiang Family?" Ye Feng raised an eyebrow.


    "The Jiang Family from Jiangnan Province. The Lei Family has pledged allegiance to the Jiang Family of Jiangnan Province, so the Jiang Family sent a master to feign as a member of the Lei Family and engage our foster father in the guise of a sparring match."


    Ye Feng was somewhat puzzled and asked, "My foster father was always calm and restrained. How could he have rashlye into conflict with the Lei Family?"


    Fu Shen said, "Younger brother, you have been away from Jiangdu for too long and are unaware of the rules set by the Three Great Ancient Families. Each year, the three Great Ancient Families of Jiangdu hold contests.


    After all, being martial arts families, besides sparring with each other, it is even moremon to determine the distribution of profits for Jiangdu¡¯s industries through these contests."


    Ye Feng understood that this method was somewhat simr to those used in the military. Often, when there is contention over interests, the soldiers would decide through apetitive arena. Whoever had the stronger fist got to im more benefits.


    In a way, suchpetitive methods were rtively fair in Jiangdu, of course, based on the adherence to rules.


    "The Jiang Family of Jiangnan Province? They really do have a nerve!" Ye Feng said in a cold, deep voice.


    Fu Zi recalled, "During the martial contest three years ago, if a member of the Lei Family had been the one to step forward, our foster father might have lost but certainly would not have died. However, that time, he didn¡¯t even have the chance to admit defeat and was killed with a single punch."


    Ye Feng¡¯s eyes slowly narrowed, "Our foster father was skilled, at least at the Eighth Stage of External Strength level. To be killed with one punch, the assant must at least be a Grandmaster of Inner Force!"


    The Martial Alliance, which was also Ye Feng, had made a simple ssification of the hierarchy in martial arts study. Martial artists start from the external and move inward. The most basic level is external strength, which has nine stages, represented by the Martial Alliance¡¯s colored belts from one to nine.


    Practicing External Strength trains the body and builds physical power. It is a hard effort that requires long-term umtion. Only after cultivating Inner Strength does one transition to a higher level, bing worthy of the term Grandmaster and represented by the rainbow cloud symbol of the Martial Alliance.


    Fu Shen said, "Over the past three years, the Lei Family has allied with the Jiang Family of Southern River Region Jiangnan and has been continuously suppressing our Fu Family, causing our business interests to suffer and be marginalized.


    Meanwhile, the Lei Family has flourished, expanding their business by fifty percent and even Lei Zaiyan has be the Vice Alliance Hierarch of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance!"


    Ye Feng thought of a key point and asked, "Is the person who killed my foster father the current Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu?"


    "No, the Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu is from the Long Family." Fu Zi shook his head.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Ye Feng nodded slightly, then inquired, "What about my elder brother, what happened to him?"


    Fu Shen said, "We also heard about our elder brother¡¯s death, but we¡¯re not sure if he¡¯s truly dead."


    Ye Feng frowned.


    Fu Zi exined, "It¡¯s like this, Third Brother, ten years ago after you left Jiangdu for the north, our elder brother went into the Southern Border soon after. Later we heard that he had be extremely skilled and had even be one of the Formation Lords in one of the Eight Formations of the Southern Territory!"


    Ye Feng nodded and said, "My elder brother¡¯s strength was not bad; he was indeed fully qualified to be the Formation Lord of a town in the Southern Territory."


    Fu Shen continued, "More than three years ago, news came back from the Southern Territory that our elder brother, leading the thirty thousand soldiers of the Heaven Guard Army under hismand, went deep into the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Border to eliminate the forces of the Gu&Poison Sect.


    Unfortunately, he fell victim to an ambush by a Gu&Poison Sect master and ultimately fell off a cliff. Since then, there has been no news of him."


    "The Gu&Poison Sect of the Southern Border?" Ye Feng¡¯s brows slightly furrowed.


    As the Northern Border King, he naturally knew about the affairs of the Four Great Realms and was well aware of the formidable Gu&Poison Sect within the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Border.


    In fact, over the years, the Southern Territory had repeatedly dispatched troops to fight against the Gu&Poison Sect, aiming to clear out this malicious sect. However, the vast territory of the Hundred Thousand Mountains made it incredibly difficult to wipe out, and moreover, there had been some internal chaos weakening the Southern Territory in recent years.


    After some thought, Fu Shen said hesitantly, "Moreover, I heard another piece of news that the reason the Jiang Family from the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province assisted the Lei Family of Jiangdu was because our elder brother, while serving as a Formation Lord in the Southern Border, had a conflict and dispute with another person from the Jiang Family who was also a Formation Lord."


    Fu Zi snorted coldly, "So, seeing that our elder brother was in trouble, did the Jiang Family from Southern River Region Jiangnan use the Lei Family¡¯s hand to kill our foster father in order to vent their anger?"


    Ye Feng sneered, "Although the Gu&Poison Sect of the Southern Border is malicious, its power is quite scattered and not very strong among the forces. My elder brother, as a Formation Lord, leading thirty thousand soldiers, would never have had an ident even if he encountered the Gu&Poison Sect. Therefore, it¡¯s very likely that he was trapped by someone, and this person who set the trap..."


    Without finishing his sentence, Ye Feng left the implication hanging in the air, but everyone present naturally understood. If this was indeed the case, then there was no doubt that the instigator was from the Jiang Family.


    While they spoke, the servant had already prepared lunch, but at this moment, Ye Feng had no appetite for food.


    "By the way, where is my foster father buried? I would like to pay my respects to him," Ye Feng spoke up.


    Fu Shen nodded, "Of course, let¡¯s go together."


    As the group set out from the house, the previously clear sky suddenly filled with the sh of lightning and the rumble of thunder, thick clouds gathering, followed by the onught of a violent storm.


    Arriving at Fu Zuoming¡¯s grave, Ye Feng was soaked through. He sat quietly in his wheelchair, staring at the tombstone¡¯s etching of the kind-faced old man, lost in thought.


    "It¡¯s my negligence, these years I never informed the King of the Southern Territory to ask him to look after the Fu Family."


    Ye Feng sighed deeply and said, "Paying respects like this feels like something is missing. Let¡¯s go to the Lei Family right now and bring back two heads!"

 Chapter 30 Outrageous Bullying

    The Lei Family really went too far in their bullying, and Ye Feng was undoubtedly furious.


    "Hold on, little brother, don¡¯t be reckless with your actions!"


    Fu Shen quickly stopped him and sighed deeply, "If there had been a way, if I had the capability, I would have personally gone to the Lei Family to avenge our foster father three years ago, but as you know, the Lei Family¡¯s power is immense, and they even have experts from the Jiang Family supporting them behind the scenes.


    Attacking them like that, not only would I fail to get revenge, but I would also lose my life for nothing."


    Fu Zi also tried to persuade him, "Big brother, let¡¯s not act on impulse. These years, the second brother and I haven¡¯t been afraid to die, it¡¯s just that we¡¯ve been struggling to find the right opportunity for revenge."


    At this point, Hong Qingyan spoke up, "The rain is too heavy. Let¡¯s first talk inside the carriage."


    Everyone then got into the carriage, and to distract Ye Feng, Fu Zi changed the subject, "By the way, about your legs, what really happened? You just mentioned you were framed, but who framed you?"


    Ye Feng waved his hand, "My legs are a minor issue. Those who framed me were just some nobodies, not worth mentioning."


    He didn¡¯t want to talk too much about his own issues, because it involved too much, and there was no point in discussing it.


    Fu Zi let out a long sigh, "Our family has really suffered. Foster Father was beaten to death, the eldest brother fell from a cliff and his life or death is unclear, and now your legs have also been crippled, brother. It¡¯s truly one disaster after another."


    Ye Feng suddenly thought of a question and asked, "Right, where¡¯s Uncle Fu Zuoxing? With such a big incident in the Fu Family, as the head of the family, what is his stance?"


    "Fu Zuoxing, don¡¯t even mention that coward. He¡¯s always disliked us since we were young. After the incident with our foster father, he chose to hide awaypletely. Far from having any thoughts of avenging our foster father, he instead grovelled to the Lei Family and gave away most of our family¡¯s assets, just to protect hisst bit ofnd."


    Ye Feng nodded slightly, without asking further. Though Fu Zuoxing¡¯s actions were cowardly and weak, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with him.


    Fu Shen suddenly said, "Coincidentally, tonight someone from the Jiang Family of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province ising over, and tomorrow happens to be the day when the three great ancient families of Jiangdupete in martial arts to reassess the distribution of interests in Jiangdu¡¯s properties."


    Speaking of this, Fu Shen clenched his teeth in anger, "Thinking about it, that spineless old man Fu Zuoxing must have already gone to the airport to personally wee the people from the Jiang Family, hoping to gain their leniency and keep what¡¯s left of his assets."


    Ye Feng raised his eyebrows, "Tomorrow is the day for the martialpetition. Who ising from the Jiang Family this time?"


    "It¡¯s said that the visitor is Jiang Tianlong, the eldest young master of the Jiang Family. He¡¯s known as one of the Four Great Heavenly Dragons in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, a famous yboy. This guyes and goes as he pleases in our Jiangdu, acting as if it¡¯s his own backyard."


    Fu Zi gritted her teeth in contempt; she detested the actions of this spoiled eldest son from the Jiang Family.


    Ye Feng lifted his eyebrows, "If tomorrow is the day for the families to engage in martialpetition, then tomorrow we¡¯ll settle ounts with them!"


    Towards Ye Feng¡¯s words, both Fu Shen and Fu Zi didn¡¯t take them seriously, nor did they hold any hope, considering it merely a spirited deration from Ye Feng.


    After all, his legs were already broken, and he could only sit in a wheelchair. Seeking revenge was easier said than done!


    Throughout this entire conversation, Seventeen followed silently behind Ye Feng without uttering a word, nearly invisible. If one didn¡¯t pay attention, it was all too easy to overlook him.


    In the evening, the car returned to the old Fu Family mansion, and during dinner, Fu Zuoxing¡¯s family braved the rain to drive back home.


    Fu Zuoxing was the elder brother of Fu Zuoming and the head of the Fu Family in this generation. When Fu Zuoming had started to adopt people like Ye Feng one after another, Fu Zuoxing, as the head of the family, had strongly opposed it andter even treated Ye Feng and the three others with disdain, going so far as to propose that they be driven out of the old mansion.


    It was only after the eldest brother, Fu Tian, had entered the Southern Territory to be the lord of a town that Fu Zuoxing¡¯s attitude began to change. However, due to Fu Tian¡¯s troubles and offending the Jiang Family, Fu Zuoxing¡¯s attitude underwent aplete reversal yet again.


    "Eat, eat, eat, you two gluttons, spending all day just knowing how to eat. Even though you were adopted and not true descendants of our Fu Family, hasn¡¯t my second brother raised you all this while? Don¡¯t you even think about repaying a bit of the Fu Family¡¯s kindness?"


    As soon as Fu Zuoxing entered the hall, he immediately started berating them coldly, his expression indicating that he probably acted like this on a regr basis.


    Three people entered with him, one of whom was a plump and dignified woman, Fu Zuoxing¡¯s wife. The other two young men and women were Fu Zuoxing¡¯s son and daughter.


    Fu Zuoxing¡¯s wife also followed up with a cold, mocking tone, "In this windy and rainy weather, we are all still toiling for the Fu Family, yet you have it good, staying at home all day just eating and drinking. Who is the real master of the house and who is the adopted son or daughter?"


    Usually, in the face of Fu Zuoming¡¯s mockery, Fu Shen and Fu Zi would not respond. It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t dare to, nor that they were attached to the so-called Fu Family fortune; they hadn¡¯t left yet because they hadn¡¯t avenged their foster father.


    Ye Feng put down his chopsticks and said coldly, "Uncle and Aunt, you¡¯ve gone out to tter the Jiang Family at the airport in such heavy rain. It seems you really are working hard and honorably for the family."


    Fu Zuoxing frowned and asked sharply, "Who are you to talk about our Fu Family¡¯s affairs?"


    He began to speak, but suddenly recognized who it was and his face turned even darker as he gritted his teeth and shouted, "It turns out to be Ye Feng, the third foster son of Fu Zuoming."


    Ye Fengughed lightly and said, "I hope you¡¯re doing well, Uncle. Going through wind and rain to meet the people of the Jiang Family, you¡¯re so enthusiastic and attentive. Howe they didn¡¯t invite you to stay for a meal? If you haven¡¯t eaten yet, we have plenty of leftovers here, and we wouldn¡¯t mind asking you to sit down and join us."


    Fu Zuoxing¡¯s wife was extremely angry and was about to scold him, but suddenly, as if she noticed something, sheughed coldly, "What¡¯s the matter, Ye San? It seems you are sitting in a wheelchair. Could it be that your legs are broken, and you¡¯ve be a cripple?"


    Ye Feng actually nodded, "Although I am sitting in a wheelchair, it¡¯s still better than some people who are kneeling."


    "How dare you!"


    Fu Zuoxing burst into rage, "What are you, an adopted wild seed? Since when is it your turn to point fingers?"


    At that moment, Fu Zuoxing¡¯s son, Fu Wenhua, said coldly, "Dad, why bother talking so much to this adopted wild seed? Getting angry at such a person would only diminish our own dignity. If you ask me, a dog-like waste like him should be immediately kicked out!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Exactly, letting such a waste and wild dog into our home is simply an insult to our ancient Fu Family!" Fu Zuoxing¡¯s daughter, Fu Qing, also sneered.


    With a p!


    Fu Shen immediately pped his chopsticks down, rose swiftly, and snorted, "Who gave you the right to kick my third brother out? It¡¯s true that we were adopted by our foster father, but don¡¯t forget, three years ago my foster father already transferred the ownership of one of these old mansions to my name."


    "I am the master of this house, so the one who should get out is you!"

 Chapter 31 I Represent the Fu Family in the Competition

    Fu Shen had not lied; the Fu Family¡¯s old Western-style houses consisted of four interconnected buildings, sharing a sprawling courtyard, evenplete with a man-made hill and pavilion.


    Perhaps Fu Zuoming had taken into consideration his foster sons¡¯ circumstances, which was why, three years ago, he transferred the ownership of one of these old houses to his second son, Fu Shen.


    Fu Wenhua could hardly contain his anger, gritting his teeth as he said, "It¡¯s truly the world¡¯s biggest joke. Who in Jiangdu doesn¡¯t know that thisplex of old Western-style houses belongs to our Fu Family?"


    "When Uncle transferred this building to you, I suspected there was something fishy about it. Now Uncle is dead, the dead can¡¯t testify, and of course, you can talk nonsense!"


    At this moment, Fu Zi spoke up, "Although we were adopted, our foster father has been kind to us. We are, after all, partly Fu Family disciples. Tomorrow is the martial artspetition and exchange among the three families. Is there any point in arguing and creating internal strife here instead of thinking about how to deal with what¡¯s toe?"


    Fu Qing snorted, "Pretty words, who can¡¯t say them? Do you really think we¡¯re like you, only knowing how to stay at home and indulge? Didn¡¯t we go out in the rain today precisely to settle the matters concerning tomorrow¡¯spetition?"


    Since childhood, Fu Zi and Fu Qing had never gotten along. Fu Zi was exceptionally beautiful, a true beauty, while Fu Qing had a more ordinary appearance, which led to Fu Qing, the eldest daughter of the Fu Family, being jealous of Fu Zi from a young age.


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    Fu Zi asked, "Then may I ask if you¡¯ve found a solution?"


    "Of course we have!" Fu Qing scoffed with a cold huff and plopped herself down.


    Fu Zuoxing then said, "We¡¯vee to inform you that today we met with Young Master Jiang of the Jiang Family and received two pieces of good news."


    "First, Lei Zaiyan, who was originally set to fight in tomorrow¡¯spetition, suddenly had his arms and legs broken by someone. Although it¡¯s unknown who was so bold and reckless to attack a member of the Lei Family in Jiangdu, it has, in any case, unwittingly aided our Fu Family."


    Fu Shen asked, "Does that mean I won¡¯t have to face that old geezer, Lei Zaiyan, in tomorrow¡¯spetition?"


    "Correct, but Young Master Jiang has already given orders that no matter who the Lei Family sends tomorrow, our Fu Family must admit defeat. So listen well, Fu Shen, I want you to throw a few symbolic punches tomorrow and then deliberately lose to the opponent."


    "What did you say? You want me to intentionally what to the opponent?"


    Fu Shen was furious, "What a joke! How is that a piece of good news? You¡¯re asking me to intentionally lose; I am not that spineless!"


    "Spineless?"


    Fu Zuoxing scoffed coldly, "Let me tell you, if Lei Zaiyan hadn¡¯t unexpectedly broken his arm, with his Iron Sand Palm, do you think you could have beaten him? You¡¯d probably end up half-dead before you could even think about surrendering!"


    "Furthermore, regardless of how we struggle, the oue is already sealed. Why not surrender gracefully and possibly gain the other party¡¯s forgiveness? That way, we might be able to preserve ourst bit of assets."


    Fu Shen angrily retorted, "I can¡¯t do that, willingly losing. I¡¯d rather be beaten half to death by that old fart, Lei Zaiyan, than surrender. If that¡¯s the case, I simply can¡¯t take part tomorrow. Let Fu Wenhua do it, since admitting defeat is so easy, anyone can do it!"


    Fu Wenhua furiously replied, "Bullshit! In the future, I¡¯m to be the heir of the Fu Family. How could I possibly enter the ring lightly, and even less likely, admit defeat and leave a stain on my record? Otherwise, how will Imand respect when I take over the Fu Family?"


    What a scene, his father was still here, and yet he was already thinking about taking over the Fu Family!


    Ye Feng suddenly felt a sense of pity andmentation, now finally understanding why the Fu Family had declined so rapidly in two generations.


    Unfortunately, at this moment, Fu Wenhua suddenly turned his head toward Ye Feng and spoke, "I think, let¡¯s just have Ye Feng go, after all, he is the second uncle¡¯s foster son, and he can also represent our Fu Family in thepetition. Besides, he¡¯s already a cripple with a broken leg, so losing the match would be nothing out of the ordinary."


    "Shut your fucking mouth!"


    Fu Shen was furious and, gritting his teeth, said, "His legs are broken and you still want him topete; do you even have a conscience?"


    Fu Qing huffed, "What do you mean I don¡¯t have a conscience? Our second uncle raised you all to adulthood. Could it be that he raised a bunch of ungrateful wolves and dogs? Now that you¡¯re needed to repay your debt of gratitude, you¡¯re making every excuse not to."


    Fu Zi was just about to stand up and shout in anger when Ye Feng gestured for her to be quiet with a wave of his hand.


    Ye Feng slowly raised his head and swept a nce at Fu Zuoxing and the others, then said calmly, "Tomorrow, I will enter thepetition."


    "Third brother..."


    "Third brother..."


    Fu Shen and Fu Zi both started to speak, but Ye Feng waved his hand and smiled, saying, "These guys, although they¡¯re all spineless weaklings, are right about one thing, we were adopted by the foster father, and now that the Fu Family needs us, it¡¯s only natural that we should step forward."


    "Rest assured, tomorrow I will represent the Fu Family in thepetition!"


    "Then it¡¯s settled!" Fu Zuoxing seemed to make the final decision with that statement.


    In his view, a cripple with broken legspeting was of no consequence, whether he lost the match deliberately or not. After all, how could a cripple who couldn¡¯t even walk defeat a master of External Strength?


    Fu Zuoxing turned to look at Fu Zi and added, "The third piece of good news is rted to Fu Zi."


    Fu Zi asked, "Rted to me?"


    "Correct!" Fu Zuoxing appeared to be very pleased and said, "Just now, after meeting with Young Master Jiang, he expressed an interest in you and hopes to get to know you better to foster a deeper rtionship between the two of you."


    "Impossible!" Fu Zi rebutted immediately, "What kind of person is Jiang Tianlong? Nothing but a hedonist concerned only with indulgence, and his interest in me is nothing but lust, seeing me as nothing more than an object for y. To think I would foster any feelings with him is a fool¡¯s dream!"


    Fu Zuoxing¡¯s wife snorted, "You say what is Young Master Jiang worth, but have you ever taken a look at your own background? An unwanted wild child, if Zuo Ming hadn¡¯t adopted you back then, you would have probably starved to death next to a garbage can!"


    "Furthermore," she continued, "Jiang Tianlong is the esteemed Young Master of the Jiang Family in the Provincial City. His interest in you is the good fortune of eight lifetimes¡¯ worth of karma. If you behave well going forward and serve Young Master Jiang well, although you may not marry into the Jiang Family¡¯s wealth and power, our Fu Family¡¯s situation will improve a great deal."


    Fu Zuoxing spoke gravely, "Young Master Jiang has dered, if you, Fu Zi, continue to defy his wishes and refuse to submit to him, then our Fu Family will suffer the consequences. But if you do submit, our Fu Family would indirectly gain the support of the colossal Jiang Family, and our family¡¯s crisis will be easily resolved."


    "You all keep talking about repaying kindness. Listen well, Fu Zi: to submit to Young Master Jiang is the best repayment you can offer us. I have already agreed to Young Master Jiang¡¯s terms, and there is no room for discussion!"


    "Tonight, Young Master Jiang will host a banquet at Jiangdu Mingzhu Grand Hotel. Fu Zi, you must attend no matter what. If you don¡¯t go, the Fu Family is finished, and your foster father will be turning in his grave."


    Fu Zi was about to argue when Ye Feng suddenly gestured with his hand to interrupt, "Zi, agree to it. Tonight, I¡¯ll apany you. I¡¯m quite curious to see if this so-called Young Master Jiang really has three heads and six arms."

 Chapter 32 You Have Good Taste

    ```


    Seeing that the affairs of the Fu Family were generally settled, Fu Zuoxing and his family did not stay long and directly returned to another old western-style house next door.


    Fu Shen sighed, "Third brother, to tell you the truth, although I am very happy that we brothers have reunited, I actually don¡¯t wish for you toe back given the current situation of the Fu Family."


    Fu Zi also sighed, "Indeed, the Fu Family is now nothing but a mess. Fu Zuoxing, that old chap, still thinks he is smart for having cozied up to the Jiang Family, that huge monster. In reality, Young Master Jiang is merely using him to extract hisst bit of value."


    "When the Fu Family is finally gnawed to nothing, worthless, that¡¯s when they will let the Lei Familye in andpletely swallow it up!"


    Ye Fengughed and said nothing, thinking that if he hadn¡¯t returned, perhaps this would be the end of the Fu Family, but now that he hade back and encountered this situation, the so-called Lei Family, and whatever dogshit Jiang Family, all of them would be finished.


    After all, he was the reigning king of the Northern Border, and furthermore the youngest and most powerful among them. Even the King of the Southern Territory had to give him respect, let alone the Jiang Family. They were merely in charge of a genius overseeing one of the eight formations under the Southern Territory.


    The status of the Southern Territory¡¯s eight formations is even slightly lower than that of the leader of the Southern Territory, roughly equivalent to a g Leader of the Northern Border Twelve Banners!


    After dinner, Hong Qingyan¡¯s phone suddenly rang; it was from Hong Yuting, who said there was a high-profile banquet in Jiangdu tonight, to be held at the Mingzhu Grand Hotel.


    "The Mingzhu Grand Hotel?" Hong Qingyan frowned.


    "Exactly, tonight¡¯s banquet, someone from the Jiang Family of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province will attend, and the person¡¯s status is not low. It is said to be to discuss the business interests of Jiangdu¡¯s upper-circle, involving the future majoryout of Jiangdu¡¯s industry."


    Hong Yuting revealed this, her voice tinged with a slight smile, "Qingyan, now that you are the acting CEO of Hongtian Group, it seems necessary for you to attend. After all, such high-profile meetings directly determine the future industrialyout of Jiangdu, which rtes to the business interests of our Hong Family."


    Hong Qingyan did not immediately agree, but instead asked, "The personing from Jiangnan Province, is it Young Master Jiang Tianlong of the Jiang Family?"


    Hong Yuting was taken aback on the phone, and then retorted, "How do you know?"


    Hong Qingyan smiled slightly and said, "Sister, you mustn¡¯t forget that I am now the acting CEO of the group. Shouldn¡¯t I be aware of such information?"


    Hong Yuting huffed and did not engage with herment, obviously feeling quite aggrieved.


    "So, are youing tonight or not? I¡¯m not afraid to tell you that tonight, all of Jiangdu¡¯s influential business families, even including the Three Great Ancient Families, and all their outstanding youngsters, will attend!" Hong Yuting¡¯s tone became firmer.


    Hong Qingyan turned to look at Ye Feng, her face filled with inquiring expressions. It was clear that she had realized that the banquet at the Mingzhu Grand Hotel mentioned by her sister was probably the one referred to by the Fu Family just now.


    Ye Feng nodded slightly and said, "Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s go and see."


    Hong Qingyan immediately replied through the phone, "Alright, I¡¯ll attend tonight, and Big Brother Ye wille with me."


    Hong Yutingughed, her giggles conveyed through the line, "Of course, the main characters tonight are the outstanding youths of Jiangdu¡¯s wealthy families. Your fianc¨¦, our Hong Family¡¯s future son-inw, since he is so outstanding, it¡¯s only natural that he should attend as well."


    "Then it¡¯s settled. Tonight at eight o¡¯clock, Mingzhu Grand Hotel, don¡¯t miss it!"


    With that statement, Hong Yuting hung up the phone. Her goal had finally been achieved. She had thought that Hong Qingyan would refuse, and for this, she had specially prepared a set of reasons and excuses. But now it seemed that things were going smoother than she had imagined.


    "That cripple agreed? And that useless son-inw of our Hong Family also agreed to go together?" Hong Wei eagerly asked.


    Hong Yuting sneered, "With your sister taking action, is there anything I can¡¯t handle?"


    ```


    "That¡¯s settled then, I must dress up meticulously, for tonight Young Master Jiang of the Jiang Family is destined to fall into the palm of my hand!"


    Hong Weiughed and said, "Rest assured, sis, you are the number one beauty of Jiangdu, destined to marry into the Provincial City¡¯s elite Jiang Family!"


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng, unlike the restlessly agitated Fu Shen and Fu Zi, remained calm and collected and didn¡¯t head directly to Mingzhu Grand Hotel. Instead, he suggested taking a stroll outside to enjoy the twilight.


    Although this area was quite old, it didn¡¯t look worn out, because the district with its cluster of old western-style houses was home to many wealthy and powerful people, so it was often renovated.


    After enduring the test of time, this ce seemed to tell its own stories, like an intricately carved stone lion unexpectedly spotted on a certain street, or the tall and lush ne trees lining the roads, or a sculpted chimney, and so on.


    All these elements formed Ye Feng¡¯s childhood memories. As he sat in the wheelchair, Hong Qingyan pushed him slowly along, walking past scenes that unfolded like frames of a film reel from his youth.


    Only when night fell did Ye Feng return to the old western-style house of the Fu Family and then set off for Mingzhu Grand Hotel.


    Mingzhu Grand Hotel was located to the east of Jiangdu, near the river. The tall building where the hotel was situated was andmark in Jiangdu, famous for its prestige, with Mingzhu Grand Hotel upying the top floor. The restaurant on the top floor was of exceptional standard.


    Dining in this restaurant, with its expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, one could have a panoramic view of the entire Jiangdu!


    When the group arrived at Mingzhu Grand Hotel, thenterns were just beginning to light up, with dazzling and beautiful streetmps decorating the city into a bustling metropolis.


    As Ye Feng and the others were about to enter, it happened by pure coincidence that they met Hong Yuting, Hong Wei, and others.


    "What a coincidence!"


    Dressed in a long, white gown embellished with pearls and diamonds, Hong Yuting approached with an excessively exaggerated, sinuous gait.


    "Our Hong Family¡¯s son-inw has also arrived."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As she said this, Hong Yuting deliberately heaved a sigh and continued, "However, considering our son-inw is no ordinary man, possessing an extraordinary demeanor, it¡¯s natural that he wouldn¡¯t miss such a noble banquet in Jiangdu."


    Ye Fengughed, nodded his head slightly, and smiled, "Although I¡¯ve always thought you¡¯re not that good-looking, now I have to admit you have quite an eye."


    Pfft...


    Behind the wheelchair, Hong Qingyan couldn¡¯t help butugh outright upon hearing these words.


    Hong Yuting instantly got angry and frowned, "What do you mean by that?"


    Ye Feng still smiled faintly, "You don¡¯t get it? It seems while you do have an eye, your intelligence isn¡¯t quite up to par."


    Hong Yuting immediately bared her teeth in a grimace, "Mr. Ye, this youngdy just gave you a little praise, and you actually think you¡¯re someone important? That¡¯s hrious. Have you looked at yourself? A waste, a son-inw that¡¯s nothing but trash, and you dare to question my intelligence?"


    Hong Wei came over and sneered, "Sis, why should you lower yourself to argue with this waste of a son-inw? It would only make us look bad. Let¡¯s go inside; Young Master Jiang is waiting for you."


    "That¡¯s true!" Puffing out her chest, Hong Yuting immediately felt good about herself again, although the size of her chest didn¡¯t invite anypliments.

 Chapter 33: One Should Not Be Too Ignorant

    Only after Hong Yuting and the rest had fully entered did Fu Shen step forward and ask, "I found those two people from earlier somewhat familiar, but I can¡¯t seem to remember who they are. Also, third brother, they called you a son-inw; to which family do you belong?"


    Fu Zi¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he said, "Third brother, you¡¯re actually married? When did this happen?"


    Ye Feng rubbed his head and answered, "It¡¯s a long story. Those two just now are from the Hong Family of Jiangdu."


    "Oh right, this person behind me, she¡¯s my fianc¨¦e, Hong Qingyan!" It was only then that Ye Feng remembered to formally introduce her.


    Fu Shen nodded slightly, greeting Hong Qingyan with a nod.


    Fu Zimented, "My third brother is a man of profound feelings and integrity. Although his legs are broken now, he is a decent person. You two are married now, so I hope you will take good care of him in the future."


    Hong Qingyan blushed, lowered her head slightly, and said softly, "I know."


    Fu Zi felt sentimental, for ever since they were little, Ye Feng had always disyed a temperament unlike the others.


    Ye Feng had been the king of the kids since childhood, even those children a couple of years older like the eldest brother and the second brother were thoroughly subdued by him, so Fu Zi had always felt a certain amount of respect and even admiration for him, since they were not true siblings after all.


    However, now that her third brother was engaged, and this sister-inw seemed quite nice, she naturally felt overjoyed.


    "The Hong Family of Jiangdu, they indeed pass as a noble family, but the attitude of those two just now wasn¡¯t too good. Third brother, if you feel aggrieved at the Hong Family, you might as welle back to the Fu Family. You could even bring our sister-inw along. After all, being a son-inw is not easy."


    Fu Shen, who was always forthright, did not mince words even in front of Hong Qingyan.


    Ye Feng, somewhat betweenughter and tears, shook his head slightly and said, "It¡¯s a minor matter. Let¡¯s go inside."


    At this point, everyone walked into the hall together. Just then, the parking courtyard suddenly weed several luxury sports cars driving in. They were followed by several young men emanating an impressive aura, jumping out of the cars one after the other.


    Even in a ce like Mingzhu Grand Hotel, the appearance of several limited edition sports cars still managed to catch everyone¡¯s attention, and people began to discuss the elegantly dressed young men.


    "Are these young men from the Long Family?" Fu Shen asked Ye Feng in a low voice.


    "The Long Family? One of the Three Great Ancient Families?" Ye Feng remained indifferent.


    "Exactly, the Long Family has the oldest heritage in Jiangdu. Their family head is also the current Leader of the Martial Alliance. Moreover, the Long Family once had a leading figure with some influence in the Southern Territory, so even the Jiang Family of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province doesn¡¯t dare to offend the Long Family easily," Fu Shen exined.


    Ye Feng nodded slightly, "To have had a leader in the Southern Territory, that¡¯s indeed remarkable. But now it seems that the Long Family might be in decline."


    He had meant this remark to be a sincere reflection, yet it happened to be overheard by a member of the Long Family just entering the hall.


    "To say that my Long Family is in decline, you certainly have quite the audacity!" Several members of the Long Family quickly walked in, all with mocking smiles as they looked at Ye Feng.


    Ye Feng also looked up at them, smiling as he replied, "I heard that among your ancestors was a leader in the Southern Territory, but looking at you now, you all seem to be nothing more than dandies, struggling even toy a solid foundation in martial arts. Isn¡¯t that what one calls a decline with each generation?"


    Hearing these words, Fu Shen and Fu Zi were utterly shocked. Even in the heyday of the Fu Family, they wouldn¡¯t dare to offend the Long Family too much, but now, Ye Feng had outright spoken such words in front of them.


    Put bluntly, wasn¡¯t this the same as calling someone trash to their face?


    The three disciples of the Long Family, two men and one woman, were immediately enraged and shouted, "Who do you think you are to dare toment on our Long Family¡¯s affairs?"


    Another young man angrily said, "Looking at you in that wheelchair, you must be a cripple, crawled out from which corner have you, tired of living?"


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t get angry, still smiling lightly, "My name is not something the likes of you are worthy of knowing. It¡¯s not just you; even if that grandfather of yours who rules the Southern Territory were here, he wouldn¡¯t have the qualification to ask in my presence!"


    "Presumptuous!" The three Long Family disciples were furious and ready to take action.


    In Jiangdu, their Long Family had never feared anyone. Even if they killed or crippled someone, if it wasn¡¯t a significant figure, it was just another death!


    Fu Shen hurriedly stepped forward, saying in an attempt to appease, "I¡¯m sorry, Elder Long Shaowu, this is my third brother. He has just returned to Jiangdu recently and isn¡¯t quite aware of the current situation. I ask the three of you to forgive him and not to lower yourselves to his level."


    Among the three disciples from the Long Family, the oldest was the Eldest Grandson of the Long Family, Long Shaowu, followed by Long Shaogong. As for that tall and fairly beautiful woman, she was from the Dragon Sound Pavilion.


    Long Shaowu then noticed Fu Shen and Fu Zi, speaking in a cold voice, "I wondered who it was, turns out to be the Fu Family¡¯s children. But now your family is declining, the only two people of any weight are dead, and now, all that¡¯s left are these old, weak and sickly people who seem even more arrogant than before?"


    Long Shaogong snorted coldly, "Not to mention a cripple; even if Fu Zuoming were still alive, he wouldn¡¯t dare speak to our Long Family like this. And it¡¯s not just him, even that Formation Lord Fu Tian in the Southern Territory would need to show some respect to our Long Family if he were here."


    Fu Shenughed, "I won¡¯t mention my foster father, but if my elder brother were still here, right now the ones who would need to be courteous should probably be your Long Family, right?"


    "What are you saying, Fu Shen? Do you know that you are challenging the Long Family¡¯s authority!" Long Shaogong roared in anger.


    Fu Shen stopped talking, realizing that at this time, he had to keep silent and y the submissive grandson. After all, the situation was against them. Offending the Jiang Family was already bad enough; if they also offended the Long Family, then the Fu Family probably wouldn¡¯t be able to stand in Jiangdu anymore.


    Fu Zi stepped in, "I¡¯m sorry, the three of you, my third brother is outspoken, but it was an unintentional remark. Here, I apologize to you three on his behalf. Please don¡¯t take offense."


    The young woman from the Long Family, Dragon Sound Pavilion, chuckled and said, "Big brother, second brother, let it be. The Fu Family is in decline, what is the point of beating a drowning dog? Besides, why bother about a cripple?"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Long Shaowu and Long Shaogong nced at Ye Feng with disdain. In their eyes, Ye Feng, sitting in a wheelchair, was basically no different from a dead dog.


    Ye Feng suddenly asked, "The current head of your Long Family, isn¡¯t he the Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu today? Did hee tonight?"


    Long Shaowu snorted contemptuously, deeming the question unworthy of a response.


    Dragon Sound Pavilionughed and said, "My dear little brother, such a person as my grandfather is not someone you can inquire about. Since you too are a descendant of the Fu Family, you should understand what the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu means, and what it means to be the Leader of the Martial Alliance."


    Having said that, she shrugged her fragrant shoulders lightly, chuckled and said, "We should not be too ignorant as human beings, don¡¯t you think I¡¯m right?"


    After saying this, she walked away without looking back, clearly having no interest in hearing Ye Feng¡¯s response, nor did she deign to listen to any.

 Chapter 34 Do I Have This Qualification?

    Young Master Long Shaowu and his two siblings finished speaking and then walked into the elevator, disying an air of disdain for Ye Feng that suggested they thought themselves too good to bother with him.


    In their view, as people of their status and identity, stooping to a quarrel with a disabled person in a wheelchair would simply lower their own dignity.


    Fu Shen shook his head and sighed, "This might be difficult now. Your words just now, younger brother, havepletely offended the Long Family. The Lei Family wasn¡¯t daring to go too far against our Fu Family because of the Long Family¡¯s presence, for they always need the bnce between the three families. But now, it¡¯s hard to say."


    Fu Zi snorted coldly, "You can¡¯t me Third Brother for that. Didn¡¯t you see how arrogant those three were just now? Acting all high and mighty¡ªas if they¡¯re something special. What do they have, except for a grandfather who once held amand in the Southern Territory?"


    "If it wasn¡¯t for his grandfather¡¯s sake and the still present connections in the Southern Territory, I¡¯m afraid the Jiang Family would have made their move against them already!"


    "It¡¯s not entirely that. The Long Family¡¯s current head can serve as the Alliance Hierarch of Jiangdu Martial Alliance, and you really think it¡¯s just because of that rtionship? The Martial Alliance¡¯s power is extremely strong; the Long Family at least still has some influence there."


    Fu Shen, having said this, waved his hand dismissively, "Let¡¯s leave it at that. What¡¯s done is done, and speaking more of it doesn¡¯t help. Let¡¯s just take things as theye."


    Ye Feng originally wanted to offer them somefort, but seeing Fu Shen look this way, he decided it was not worth the effort to speak up.


    "Let¡¯s head upstairs first," Ye Feng said with a wave of his hand, his mind clearly elsewhere.


    The attendees of tonight¡¯s banquet, though all scions of wealthy families, were mostly second or even third generations¡ªand these pampered heirs were of no interest to him.


    It could be said that in the entire Jiangdu, only the Alliance Hierarch of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance¡ªthe current head of the Long Family¡ªmight just barely qualify to hold a conversation with him.


    Of course, that was only in terms of being privileged enough to listen to Ye Feng lecture, as for the others, they did not even deserve that honor!


    Entering the special elevator, Fu Shen and the rest of their party quickly arrived at the top floor hall.


    The top floor hall had been reserved tonight by Young Master Jiang Tianlong of the Jiang Family for a private banquet and was already bustling with activity.


    As soon as Ye Feng walked in, he immediately noticed a young man dressed in a white suit, surrounded by a bevy of young and beautifuldies of high social standing, for he stood out the most.


    Fu Zi clenched her teeth and said coldly, "That guy in the white suit is Jiang Tianlong, the Young Master of the Jiang Family from Jiangnan Province Southern River Region."


    Ye Feng nodded slightly to acknowledge this, not bothering to give the others a second nce.


    Indeed, Jiang Tianlong appeared quite handsome, and was nked by a number of Jiangdu¡¯s elite youngdies like the moon surrounded by stars, clearly enjoying himself with a jovial demeanor.


    Among them, Hong Yuting was particrly attentive, even frequently casting flirtatious nces his way.


    However, it seemed that Young Master Jiang was quite experienced in the game of love and was not particrly interested in just another wealthy heiress like her. Moreover, although Hong Yuting was somewhat attractive, she paled inparison to Fu Zi.


    So the moment he saw Fu Zi enter, Jiang Tianlong immediately broke away from his conversation with the group ofdies, pushed past Hong Yuting with his wine ss in hand, and walked straight over.


    With her back to Jiang Tianlong, Hong Yuting¡¯s expression darkened instantly, and seeing Ye Feng only added fuel to her indignation.


    "Zi¡¯er, I¡¯m so d you¡¯vee. Did you know that I specifically reserved the entire floor of Mingzhu Hotel just for the banquet in your honor?"


    Jiang Tianlong smiled with a spring-like warmth on his face. Behind him stood two middle-aged men dressed in tight outfits and wearing sunsses, looking like they were his bodyguards.


    Fu Zi said, "How forgetful Young Master Jiang must be. My name is Fu Zi, not Zi¡¯er. Please remember that next time."


    Young Master Jiangughed heartily, "Of course I know that. But don¡¯t you think calling you Zi¡¯er is much more intimate?"


    Fu Zi huffed once and did not bother to engage any further.


    If it were not for Ye Feng¡¯s insistence oning, she would have never attended this so-called high-profile banquet tonight.


    Young Master Jiang didn¡¯t seem angry either, and with a smile, he said, "Almost everyone is here now, Zi¡¯er, how about we dance a song together?"


    "Prepare the music, tonight, I want to dance a song with Zi¡¯er!" After speaking, Young Master Jiang walked over and reached out to wrap his arm around Fu Zi¡¯s waist.


    Fu Zi quickly dodged with agile movements.


    "I¡¯m sorry, Young Master Jiang, but I¡¯m not feeling well today, I can¡¯t agree to your request!"


    Young Master Jiang¡¯s face finally showed displeasure, and he said in a deep voice, "Didn¡¯t Fu Zuoxing convey my words when he returned?"


    Fu Shen stepped forward and said coldly, "Fu Zuoxing is Fu Zuoxing, we are us, Fu Zuoxing may be weak, but that doesn¡¯t mean we have no backbone."


    Jiang Tianlong¡¯s face turned grim, and pointing a finger at Fu Shen¡¯s nose, he said, "Who do you think you are to speak in front of me? If Fu Tian were here, perhaps he would have some right to speak to me like that!"


    Fu Shen clenched his teeth, facing the opponent¡¯s words, he didn¡¯t know how to retort.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Ye Feng spoke up, with a faint smile, he said, "What about me then, do I have the right?"


    "You? What are you?" It was then that Jiang Tianlong turned his attention to Ye Feng.


    Seeing this, Hong Yuting knew it was her chance to shine, so she quickly walked up and cleverly snuggled up to Jiang Tianlong¡¯s side, leaning slightly with her chest against his shoulder.


    "Young Master Jiang, I just happen to know this kid in the wheelchair."


    Hong Yuting smiled sweetly and said, "He is the worthless son-inw who hase to our Hong Family."


    Jiang Tianlong frowned and asked, "Your man from the Hong Family?"


    Hong Yuting feigned annoyance and rolled her eyes at him beforeining, "Look at what you¡¯re saying, Young Master Jiang. I¡¯m at least somewhat attractive, how could I possibly consider such a waste to be my man? He¡¯s the man of our second young miss of the Hong Family."


    Jiang Tianlong nodded slightly and said pointing at Ye Feng, "I don¡¯t care whose man you are, the Hong Family may have some power in Jiangdu, but in front of me, they¡¯re nothing. I can see that you¡¯re already a waste with broken legs, now I¡¯m giving you a chance."


    With a p!


    Jiang Tianlong shattered the tall crystal ss in his hand and pointing at the broken ss on the floor, he said, "Kneel on it, knock your head in apology to me, then crawl out, and I can forgive your ignorance and foolishness."


    Ye Feng still wore a smile, and looking at him, he said, "Or else?"


    "Or else, not just you, but the entire Hong Family will have to go down with you!" Jiang Tianlong sneered with a twisted smile.


    Ye Fengughed as well, but his gaze was as sharp as a de, and he articted each word, "I can also tell you that no one has ever dared point their finger at my nose. Not you, not your father, and yes, not even your grandfather who serves as themander in the Southern Territory¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t even qualify to lift my shoes!"


    Jiang Tianlong waspletely furious and with a wave of his hand, he shouted, "Throw him out the window!"


    As his words fell, the two ck-suited, sunss-wearing bodyguards behind him made their move.


    "How dare you!"


    At this moment, Seventeen made his move. Often it was only at times like this that he would act, and only then would others realize his presence.

 Chapter 35 He Must Kneel in Front of Me too

    The atmosphere had been fine, but then things escted to violence in a sh.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Hong Yuting saw that things were amiss and swiftly sidestepped to safety, yet at this moment her heart was already blooming with joy.


    She had been contemting how to fan the mes to intensify the conflict between the two men, but now it seemedpletely unnecessary.


    "Ye Feng, this kid, is simply courting death. It¡¯s bad enough that he offended the Lei Family, but now he¡¯s dared to be so disrespectful and insolent even towards Young Master Jiang. You should know, this is the Young Master Jiang of the Jiang Family in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province!" Hong Yuting couldn¡¯t help but think to herself.


    While she was lost in her wild thoughts, there were two loud bangs, and then it was over.


    Then, everyone saw the two burly, imposing bodyguards in ck lying on the ground like dead dogs, howling and foaming at the mouth.


    As for the person who made the move, he had already returned to Ye Feng¡¯s side.


    Jiang Tianlong was trembling all over, of course, not out of fear, but out of anger, grinding his teeth in fury.


    "You... you little bastard, how dare you fight back and even injure two of my followers?"


    Jiang Tianlong¡¯s heavy voice carried a cold snort, "In Jiangdu, no one has ever dared to be so arrogant in front of me!"


    At this moment, Long Shaowu, who was nearby, shook his head and sighed, "This kid really has no fear out of ignorance. He¡¯s a foster son of the Fu Family. With his reckless impulsiveness today, he has not only doomed the Hong Family but also likely the Fu Family after tonight."


    Dragon Sound Pavilion scoffed disdainfully, "Hisckey has some skills, sure, but even so, facing the Jiang Family, it¡¯s like an ant trying to shake a tree. If the Jiang Family wanted to crush him, it would be even easier than crushing an ant."


    When Jiang Tianlong heard this, he coldly huffed, "Foster Son of the Fu Family? Still a part of the Fu Family, good. Now it¡¯s not just you, not just the Hong Family, but also the Fu Family. After tonight, all of you will be finished together!"


    Ye Feng looked at him coldly and said word by word, "You ignorant fool, you are not worthy of my reprimand. Your grandfather should have already stepped down from leading the Southern Territory, right? Have him roll over to Jiangdu to see me immediately!"


    As these words fell, the scene suddenly quieted down.


    Long Shaowu shook his head and sighed, "This kid, now he¡¯s truly beyond saving."


    Dragon Sound Pavilion also snorted, "Asking the leader of the Southern Territory to roll over and see him? Who does he think he is? Does he think he¡¯s the King of the Southern Territory, or perhaps a king from one of the other Three Realms?"


    Long Shaogongughed heartily, "If he¡¯s the king of the Four Realms, then I must be one of those esteemed National Guardian Sect Leaders in the capital, haha..."


    Ye Feng immediately turned his gaze toward the three siblings of the Long Family and said coldly, "Your grandfather, the Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu, will sooner orter be dragged down by you three foolish grandchildren!"


    "What did you just say, you little brat?" Long Shaogong was furious upon hearing this, rolling up his sleeves and ready to charge over.


    Long Shaowu stopped him and said, "We don¡¯t need to take action. The life of this dog tonight is Young Master Jiang¡¯s. We don¡¯t have to fight over him."


    Jiang Tianlong kept sneering, pointing at Ye Feng¡¯s nose, word by word, "So arrogant. I¡¯ve seen arrogant people before, but never anyone as arrogant as you."


    Ye Feng¡¯s eyes narrowed and hemanded, "Seventeen, break his five fingers!"


    No sooner had the words left his mouth, Seventeen darted out from behind him.


    Jiang Tianlong only felt darkness before his eyes, then a sudden pain in his abdomen, causing him to kneel down. Next, there was a cracking sound, and the five fingers pointing at Ye Feng were all broken.


    "Ah..." Young Master Jiang knelt on the ground, right in front of Ye Feng, screaming in excruciating pain.


    Hong Yuting, watching from the sidelines, felt her heart pounding. She was both scared and excited, and she couldn¡¯t help but think, "Excellent, just great. The more miserable Young Master Jiang gets beaten, the more ferocious the Jiang Family¡¯s retaliation will be. Ye, you¡¯re done for now, not even the gods can save you!"


    Hong Wei quietly walked over and whispered, "Sis, I¡¯m a bit scared."


    Hong Yuting red at him and snorted, "You spineless thing, what are you scared of?"


    Hong Wei said, "Things have gotten out of hand, seriously out of hand. Jiang Tianlong¡¯s five fingers are ruined, that Ye family loser son-inw beat him like a dead dog, the Jiang Family surely won¡¯t let this go. I fear for our Hong Family..."


    Hong Yuting¡¯s eyes flickered, but she didn¡¯t speak. Instead, she suddenly went out, crouched down, and supported Jiang Tianlong.


    "Young Master Jiang, how are you feeling? Do you want me to take you to the hospital now? Although this disabled Ye is our Hong Family¡¯s son-inw, we Hong Family have never liked him. To be honest, he really doesn¡¯t have much to do with our family."


    "That¡¯s right, just now, Long Shaowu said that this kid is a foster son of the Fu Family. This must have been instigated by the Fu Family!"


    It had to be said that Hong Yuting knew how to shift the me onto others.


    Upon hearing this, Jiang Tianlong gritted his teeth and roared, "Fu Family, tomorrow, I will surely exterminate your n!"


    Fu Shen and Fu Zi frowned, but said nothing at this point. What could they say now? They had not considered that Ye Feng would be this impulsive, and to think of rectifying the situation now was simply impossible.


    Ye Feng humphed, "Tomorrow is the tri-family martialpetition, remember to bring your grandfather over!"


    After speaking, Ye Feng turned his head, his gaze cold and sharp like a knife, and looked at the three siblings from the Long Family and said, "Tomorrow, it would be best if you also bring along the Sect Leader of Jiangdu from your family toe see me!"


    Ye Feng then wheeled his chair around, and with Hong Qingyan pushing it, they left.


    He had not taken action to kill Jiang Tianlong, after all, in his eyes, a creature as insignificant as an ant like that was not worth dirtying his hands. In other words, he wasn¡¯t worthy of dying at the hands of the Northern Border King.


    The entire hall was as silent as death; no one dared to step forward to stop them, not even Long Shaowu and the other two, who had been frightened by Ye Feng¡¯s terrifying gaze and did not even dare to breathe heavily.


    Only after Ye Feng and the others hadpletely entered and the elevator door had closed did Jiang Tianlong roar skyward, "Ye Feng, you are dead, I want you dead! The Fu Family must be exterminated, what are you waiting for? Why aren¡¯t you informing the family immediately!"


    It wasn¡¯t until then that the other attendants frantically pulled their phones out of their pockets to make calls.


    Only after Ye Feng and the others hadpletely left the Mingzhu Grand Hotel did Fu Shen let out a long sigh into the night sky.


    "Third brother," Fu Shen suddenly called out to Ye Feng.


    "What is it, Second Brother?" asked Ye Feng, turning around.


    "Things havee to this, and I know it¡¯s already toote to say anything. Of course, I¡¯m not ming you. On the contrary, just now, it was very satisfying, damn satisfying!"


    Fu Shen said through clenched teeth, "But Third Brother, you¡¯d better run now, while the Jiang Family¡¯s people haven¡¯t arrived yet. You should escape immediately, escape from Jiangdu, and stay far away from Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, and nevere back."


    "Escape?" Ye Feng suddenlyughed as if he had heard an incredibly funny joke. Him, the Northern Border King, being told to run away?


    Fu Shen said, "Yes, run now. And Fu Zi, you go with Third Brother. The Jiang Family¡¯s power is mainly in Jiangnan Province, as long as you leave, they won¡¯t be able to touch you."


    Fu Zi said, "That won¡¯t work, Second Brother. If we run away, what will you do?"


    Fu Shen said, "I cannot run. If I were to leave, there are hundreds of employees under the Fu Family, what will be of them? I need to arrange for them tonight. Besides, with such a significant incident, there must be someone left behind to bear the wrath of the Jiang Family."


    Suddenly, Ye Feng waved his hand and said, "Second Brother, as your brother, I shouldn¡¯t have kept my identity from you, but now is not the time. However, I can let you in on something. Never mind a Jiang Tianlong, or the Long Family, even if the head of the Jiang Family who was once the leader of the Southern Territoryes before me, he will have to kneel!"

 Chapter 36: Our Hong Family Does Not Welcome You

    After leaving Mingzhu Grand Hotel, Ye Feng and his group first returned to the Fu Family.


    At the banquet in the Mingzhu Hotel earlier, Fu Wenhua and Fu Qing from the Fu Family had also been present and naturally witnessed the scene of Young Master Jiang being beaten up.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    However, they didn¡¯t feel any sense of relief. As soon as they saw Ye Feng getting out of the car, Fu Zuoxing rushed out hurriedly from inside.


    "Ye! I heard that at the Mingzhu Grand Hotel banquet, you beat up Young Master Jiang. Is that true?"


    Ye Feng smiled and said, "I didn¡¯t expect you to be so well-informed."


    "It¡¯s over, now we are really done for! The Fu Family is finished!" Fu Zuoxing¡¯s wife pped her forehead, her face already ashen.


    With a clenched jaw, Fu Zuoxing said, "Who allowed you to do such a thing? Don¡¯t you know who Young Master Jiang is? Don¡¯t you realize the status of the Jiang Family in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province? Not to mention a small ce like Jiangdu City, even in the entire Province, the Jiang Family is a super wealthy family!"


    Taking a step forward, Fu Zi said coldly, "So what? Do we have to be spineless cowards like you, always bending over backwards for others?"


    Fu Zuoxing roared, "You have no right to speak here, you ungrateful wretch! For Young Master Jiang to take a fancy to you is the fortune of your wild tribe for eight generations. Not only did you fail to appreciate it, you actually refused Young Master Jiang."


    Fu Qing pouted and chimed in, "Exactly, why pretend to be some Holy Maiden? What¡¯s wrong with Young Master Jiang? He¡¯s handsome and talented; his family¡¯s power is immense. If you¡¯d epted his invitation earlier, none of these troubles would have followed."


    Fu Wenhua said, "Dad, it¡¯s already toote to say anything now. That Ye has already beaten up the cripple, and the Jiang Family will definitely not let us off. We should quickly think of a way to remedy this situation."


    "Wenhua is right. Think quickly of how to rectify this. Otherwise, we will surely suffer the consequences along with this waste!" Fu Zuoxing¡¯s wife said.


    Fu Qing snorted, "If you ask me, just capture this Ye and personally escort him to the Jiang Family. Maybe then the Jiang Family won¡¯t me us."


    "Exactly, Qing¡¯er has a good idea. Zuo Xing, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and capture this cripple Ye before it¡¯s toote!" Fu Zuoxing¡¯s wife urged again and again.


    Fu Zuoxing didn¡¯t move. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Ye Feng. He was no fool; Young Master Jiang always had bodyguards when he went out, and their skills were no joke, the lowest among them being Sixth and Seventh Stage masters of External Strength.


    To be able to decisively knock down such masters, it indicated that the unassuming man standing behind Ye Feng was at least a master of the Eighth and Ninth Stage of External Strength, and possibly even a Great Grandmaster.


    But even if it were a Great Grandmaster, what of it? There were three Great Masters in the Jiang Family, not to mention the former Southern Territory Town Master who was the head of the family.


    All of a sudden, Fu Zuoxing asked, "Ye, tell me truthfully, what is your status now?"


    Ye Fengughed and lifting the corners of his mouth, said, "You¡¯re asking my status? Have you considered whether you¡¯re even qualified to ask?"


    "How dare you!"


    Fu Wenhua roared; he initially wanted to point at Ye Feng¡¯s nose but then he suddenly remembered what had happened to Jiang Tianlong and hastily drew back his hand, grinding his teeth, "You audacious brat, if you think you¡¯re so capable, why did you return to the Fu Family, bringing trouble upon us?"


    Fu Qing curled her lip in contempt, "Isn¡¯t it obvious? Where else would a cripple go after being crippled? When Fu Zuoming died, he left a sum of money for them. That¡¯s why they came back to fight over that inheritance."


    Fu Zuo Xing gritted his teeth and snorted, "Out of consideration for my second brother, Fu Zuo Ming, I won¡¯ty a hand on you. But let me tell you, starting from today, that Ye surname boy, along with Fu Shen and Fu Zi, you three will no longer be members of our Fu Family."


    "Tomorrow morning, I will announce to the whole of Jiangdu that the three of you have been thoroughly expelled from the Fu Family, henceforthpletely severing any ties with us!"


    Fu Wenhua said, "Dad, this is a good n. Announce it to the whole Jiangdu City, so the Jiang Family will also know that we have nothing to do with them. That way, they won¡¯t implicate us. Not only should we announce it, but we should also vehemently scold and me that Ye cripple, thoroughly distancing ourselves from him."


    Fu Qing said, "Announcing it tomorrow morning might be toote. I fear the people from the Jiang Family will descend upon Jiangdu City by tomorrow morning. Dad, you should go and do it tonight, right now. Announce it, expel these three from the Fu Family andpletely sever all rtions with them!"


    "Alright, you¡¯re right. I¡¯ll go do it now!" Fu Zuo Xing flung his arm with resolve and strode towards his own old Western-style house, evidently ready to issue the announcement.


    Ye Feng shook his head but said nothing. He originally wanted to give the Fu Family a chance, for the sake of his foster father, to offer them a future. But now it seemed it wasn¡¯t that he harbored no gratitude, but rather that Fu Zuo Xing and the others simplycked any virtue.


    "Forget it, I¡¯ll return to the Hong Family now." Ye Feng decided not to go inside anymore.


    Fu Zi scoffed coldly, "Third brother, don¡¯t take these guys¡¯ words to heart. This damned Fu Family, if it weren¡¯t for thinking of avenging our foster father, we would have wanted to leave for good a long time ago. Do they really think we care about their little property?"


    Ye Feng looked at Fu Shen and asked, "What about you, second brother? What are your thoughts?"


    Fu Shen gave a bitter smile and said, "Naturally, I have nothing to feel nostalgic about. However, I¡¯m just wondering if what you said earlier was true."


    Ye Feng asked, "Which words?"


    Fu Shen said, "You said that even if the Jiang Family head, who once held themander post, came here, he would have to crawl before you. Is that true?"


    Ye Feng said, "We brothers grew up together. When have you ever seen me lie?"


    Fu Shenughed and suddenly let out a long breath, eximing jubntly, "Good, very good. Ever since childhood, you¡¯ve been the king of kids, showing an extraordinary temperament. I thought that our eldest brother bing the Southern Territory Town Master was the pinnacle of sess. But you, third brother, are really something...


    "With that statement of yours just now, I¡¯m reassured. From now on, you and I, brothers together, even if it¡¯s through a sea of knives or mes, I¡¯ll jump in with you!"


    Ye Feng nodded, his heart, as firm as iron, was inevitably moved at this moment.


    Subsequently, Ye Feng and Hong Qingyan left and returned to the Hong Family under the cover of night.


    The front reception hall of the Hong Family was still brightly lit, though there were no visitors. The patriarch, Hong Zhenguo, was not present. Instead, Hong Tianming, Hong Wei, Hong Yuting, and others rushed out at the sound of the car.


    "How dare you, this brash and ignorant troublemaker of a crippled son-inw,e back? Why are you even here?" Zhang Yuman was the first to speak.


    "We¡¯ve just received the city-wide announcement from the Fu Family. They¡¯vepletely disowned you, the foster son, and now that the Fu Family doesn¡¯t want you, you have the gall toe to our Hong Family? Do you really think the Hong Family is a shelter that takes in any trouble-making cats or dogs?"


    "Get out; our Hong Family does not wee you!"

 Chapter 37 I hope you don’t regret it

    Ye Feng couldn¡¯t help but feel both amused and annoyed. After all, as the reigning overlord of the Northern Border, even the nobles and magnates in the imperial city would be polite and eager to visit him, yet these families in Jiangdu dared to turn him away.


    He didn¡¯t retaliate because he didn¡¯t deign to do so, just as Hong Zhenguo had previously said¡ªpeople like Hong Tianming were simply too hopeless to be helped.


    "By the way, where¡¯s Grandpa? Why haven¡¯t I seen him?" Hong Qingyan suddenly spoke up, sensing that something was amiss.


    Given the uproar, it was impossible for Grandpa not to hear, nor was it conceivable that he would not show up and allow people like Hong Yuting to do as they pleased.


    Zhang Yuman sneered, "You¡¯re talking about that old guy? He¡¯s sick, and it¡¯s serious."


    "Grandpa is sick? That¡¯s impossible. He has always been healthy, and he was fine just yesterday. How could he suddenly fall ill?"


    Hong Qingyan demanded, her expression suddenly shifting as she said, "Could it be that you have ced Grandpa under house arrest?"


    "Nonsense!" Hong Tianming scoffed coldly. "No matter what, he is after all the Old Master, my father. How could I possibly treat him that way? I don¡¯t want to waste words with you. Mr. Ye, we won¡¯t bother bickering with you either.


    The Fu Family has already expelled you from its ranks!"


    "And we, the Hong Family, will also sever all ties with you tonight, so that when the Jiang Family arrives in Jiangdu tomorrow, they won¡¯t involve us in any trouble!"


    Zhang Yuman suddenly interjected. "That¡¯s still not enough, Tianming. We need to issue a public notice, informing everyone in Jiangdu, disowning this worthless son-inw. Otherwise, if the Jiang Familyes after us tomorrow, the Hong Family won¡¯t be able to bear it."


    Hong Yuting also said, "Mother is right; we must announce it to the entire city just like the Fu Family did!"


    Ye Feng shook his head and simply said, "I hope you won¡¯t regret this!"


    After uttering these words, Ye Feng turned his wheelchair. He didn¡¯t waste any further words, and of course, he didn¡¯t barge in, even though he knew that the bodyguards of the Hong Family couldn¡¯t stop him. But he didn¡¯t do so, as he disdained to forcefully enter.


    For such amanding overlord, that was the kind of spirit and courage he had; he didn¡¯t even deign to exin himself.


    Besides this estate, the Hong Family also owned a property in the Binjiang new district, bought by Hong Zhenguo specifically for Hong Qingyan, so that one day, when the Hong Family no longer weed her, she would have a ce to go.


    Later, Ye Feng and the others arrived at this property and spent a night without incident.


    The next day was the day when the Three Great Ancient Families of Jiangdu were topete in martial arts to determine the division of industrial profits for theing year, and since Ye Feng had already promised Fu Shen and Fu Zi that he would show up, he naturally would not be absent.


    Having finished his martial practice early, he was ready to go. But, just as he was about to step out, Hong Qingyan¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    It was a call from the steward of the Hong Family. As soon as Hong Qingyan answered, the steward hurriedly said, "It¡¯s terrible news, Miss Second. The Old Master is sick, seriously sick, and now he¡¯s in the hospital. Moreover, the hospital has issued a critical condition notice!"


    "Hong Tianming told me not to tell you. I¡¯m calling you secretly. I can¡¯t talk more now; they areing. He¡¯s at the Second Hospital of Jiangdu. You¡¯d better hurry over; otherwise, I¡¯m afraid the Old Master really won¡¯t make it."


    Before Hong Qingyan could ask for more details, the steward on the other end hastily hung up the phone.


    Hong Qingyan¡¯s heart was already in turmoil. Instinctively, she wanted to rush to the hospital, but she suddenly stopped and turned toward Ye Feng.


    Ye Feng asked, "What happened?"


    Hong Qingyan was almost choked up as she spoke, "Grandpa is ill, very ill. He might not make it much longer, and it seems Hong Tianming and the others want to fight over the inheritance without even letting me know."


    "Old Master Hong is sick?" Ye Feng was somewhat surprised, "As a martial artist, he shouldn¡¯t fall ill so suddenly unless something unexpected has urred."


    What his words implied was that it was very likely that Old Master Hong Zhenguo had encountered some ident.


    Hong Qingyan didn¡¯t speak; she just looked at Ye Feng with eager eyes.


    Understanding the situation, Ye Feng said after a moment¡¯s thought, "Let¡¯s go, to the hospital first!"


    After all, a life was at stake. Even if today was the day for the Three Great Ancient Families topete and exchange skills, that would have to wait. What¡¯s more, the old master had once saved his life.


    Jiangdu¡¯s Second Hospital was not the best hospital in Jiangdu. Logic would dictate that the Hong Family, notcking money, would not send the old master to this hospital. From this, it was evident that Hong Tianming and the others didn¡¯t take Old Master¡¯s illness to heart.


    Especially since, in recent times, the old master¡¯s actions had greatly annoyed members of the Hong Family. To put it harshly, perhaps Hong Tianming, Zhang Yuman, Hong Yuting and others couldn¡¯t wait for the old master to die, so they could smoothly take over the family¡¯s inheritance rights.


    Even though it was early morning, the hospital was already crowded with people. It took some effort and connections to find the VIP ward in the hospital¡¯s rear courtyard where the old master was being treated.


    Upon seeing Ye Feng, Hong Qingyan, and others arrive, Zhang Yuman¡¯s heavily made-up face instantly darkened.


    "What bad luck, seeing this disabled son-inw first thing in the morning really ruins my mood!" Zhang Yuman muttered with a sneer.


    "What are you doing here, you disabled son-inw?" Hong Yuting blocked the way and shouted angrily.


    Hong Qingyan cried out before Ye Feng could speak, "We heard that Grandfather is sick, so we came specifically to see him."


    Zhang Yuman let out a coldugh and said, "The old master is indeed sick, but it¡¯s nothing serious. He has just fallen asleep. The attending physician instructed that he should not be disturbed, so there¡¯s no need for you to go in. Head back wherever you came from."


    "Impossible!" Hong Qingyan immediately rejected this and snorted, "Uncle Lian just called me, saying that the old master is severely ill, he¡¯s even in critical condition, on the verge of death. You all are clearly lying!"


    Zhang Yuman became angry, huffing coldly, "So what if we¡¯re lying? Even if the old master is seriously ill and close to death, what of it? Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re nothing but an illegitimate child; you were picked up, not a blood member of the Hong Family Younger Generation!"


    Hong Yuting also sneered, "That¡¯s right, you should really look at yourself. As an adopted daughter, even though you bear the Hong Family name, do you really think you¡¯re a direct descendant? What right do you have to shout at us here?"


    Hong Wei also said, "There¡¯s nothing here for you. Stay wherever it¡¯s cool; if you want to make trouble, don¡¯t me us for not being polite."


    Ye Feng¡¯s eyebrows rose sharply, "Old Master Hong has saved my life. Since he¡¯s fallen ill today, it is only right for me to visit. Moreover, as for whom I want to see or where I want to go, there¡¯s never been anyone under heaven who can block my path!"


    "Step aside, or don¡¯t force me to act!"


    Ye Feng¡¯s gaze was sharp and authoritative, cold and dignified.


    Hong Wei was somewhat frightened, but Hong Yuting clenched her teeth and roared, "Ye Feng, I know the person behind you is somewhat capable, but don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re nothing but a crippled son-inw whom the Hong Family brought in. What right do you have to speak to us like this!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Furthermore, this is a hospital, under the public eye; do you really dare to make a move against us here?"


    "Seventeen, throw her into the pond next to us!" Ye Feng gave the order, and Seventeen, standing behind him, immediately sprang into action, lunging forward.

 Chapter 38 This is Poisoning

    Seventeen¡¯s figure shed, and Hong Yuting was sent flying into the air.


    With a ssh, countless droplets burst from the pool as Hong Yuting plunged in headfirst, luckily, the water was not too deep, otherwise, she might have drowned.


    "Ye Feng, you damn killer, you¡¯ve offended the Lei Family, offended the Jiang Family of Southern River Region Jiangnan, you¡¯re dead without a doubt!" Hong Yuting scrambled up, screaming her lungs out in fury.


    Seventeen turned his head and said to Hong Tianming, "My Lord, these flies are really too noisy, shall we just kill them and be done with it?"


    Ye Feng waved his hand and said, "Forget it, after all, they are the old man¡¯s family, let¡¯s spare them a dog¡¯s life, and besides, their lives aren¡¯t worth much!"


    Hong Tianming and the others, who were originally standing in the corridor blocking the way, were scared stiff upon hearing Seventeen¡¯s words, trembling, they quickly moved aside.


    Hong Qingyan directly pushed Ye Feng, then opened the door and walked into the advanced ward.


    The advanced ward is private, usually housing only one patient, and there is also a small lounge for family members to rest.


    Zhang Yuman kept shivering until Ye Feng waspletely inside, then she dared to speak up, "Tianming, this worthless... this crippled son-inw, did he really dare to kill someone just now?"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Hong Tianming was also quite frightened, however, as the acting head of the family, he tried to calm himself and hummed, "He doesn¡¯t have the guts, rest assured, this arrogant but ignorant Ye Feng, having offended the Jiang Family of Southern River Region Jiangnan, he won¡¯t survive today."


    Meanwhile, Hong Wei had already pulled Hong Yuting out of the pool, this was her second time being thrown in, she who was the beauty of Jiangdu was never humiliated and treated like this.


    "This Ye Feng, if he dies today, I will definitely set off fireworks to celebrate!"


    Zhang Yuman snorted, "Ye Feng is bound to die today, but Tianming, after all, he is now our son-inw of the Hong Family, we can¡¯t be careless with the Jiang Family¡¯s reaction, if it affects us, that would be..."


    Before she could finish, Hong Tianming had already waved his hand and said, "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve made preparations, I¡¯ve sold off a few of my properties, and my shares in the group, I¡¯ve already transferred to General Manager Shen Minghua."


    "You¡¯ve already transferred your shares to Shen Minghua?" Zhang Yuman was somewhat surprised.


    "Yes, I had to make preparations early, the money in the bank, I¡¯ve already moved it out of Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, should there be any wind and grass movements, our whole family, will just leave Southern River Region Jiangnan Province. Even if we go to any other city, our savings will be enough for us to live on."


    Zhang Yuman then breathed a sigh of relief, "You¡¯re always smart, Tianming, you always act cautiously without worries about the future."


    Hong Tianming sneered, "Of course, after all, I am the president of the Hongtian Group and someone who has seen his share of storms!"


    Now speaking of Ye Feng, when he entered the ward and saw Hong Zhenguo on the hospital bed, he was immediately startled.


    Even Ye Feng, a man used to seeing the highs and lows of life, was moved at the sight of Hong Zhenguo in such a state.


    At that moment, Hong Zhenguoy on the bed, gaunt and skeletal, hisplexion deathly pale, virtually reduced to skin and bones.


    It was hard to imagine that just the other day, the vigorous and healthy Hong Zhenguo could turn into such a state within a mere two days.


    "Grandpa..." Hong Qingyan immediately burst into tears, throwing herself onto the hospital bed.


    Hong Zhenguo was already unconscious, and even his breathing was extremely weak.


    Ye Feng raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "Bring the attending doctor in charge over to ask about the situation!"


    Hong Tianming entered at this time and snorted, "It¡¯s no use bringing them here. The attending doctor said they can¡¯t figure out what¡¯s wrong. The old man¡¯s illness is very strange; their hospital has never encountered such a phenomenon in all these years."


    "The hospital can¡¯t figure it out? How is that possible? Or is it that you simply haven¡¯t bothered to try?" Hong Qingyan shouted.


    "What are you talking about? No matter what, the old man is my father. As his son, could I stand by and do nothing?" Hong Tianming retorted with a cold huff, and by his demeanor, he did not seem to be lying.


    "I have already contacted experts from the Provincial City. They should arrive soon. Let¡¯s see then," Shen Tianming said with a sigh.


    Zhang Yuman then sneered, "Or perhaps, the old man has done too many absurd things recently, bringing some unclean people home, and now he¡¯s getting his retribution."


    Her words were clearly indirect usations. Ye Feng frowned but couldn¡¯t be bothered to stoop to her level.


    Ye Feng maneuvered his wheelchair closer, then stretched out his right hand to ce it directly on Hong Zhenguo¡¯s wrist. After a brief examination, his brow furrowed tightly, and even hisplexion became somewhat grave.


    Hong Qingyan asked, "How is it, Big Brother Ye? Have you discovered something?"


    Ye Feng said gravely, "The old master is not ill; he has been poisoned, someone has poisoned him."


    "Poisoned, you mean someone poisoned Grandfather to harm him?" Hong Qingyan was shocked, suddenly looking up at Zhang Yuman instinctively.


    Zhang Yuman scoffed, "What a joke. Even the hospital couldn¡¯t detect anything, and this son-inw can find out just by checking the pulse briefly?"


    Hong Yuting followed with a sneer, "Pretending to be profound, a cripple who can¡¯t even cure his own legs is putting on the airs of a divine healer. Such deliberate posturing is sure to make people sick!"


    Ye Feng was already toozy to pay attention to these ignorant pests. Just as he was about to speak, a burst of footsteps suddenly echoed in the hallway.


    "What¡¯s going on? Why are there so many people in the ward? Haven¡¯t I said that you can¡¯t have so many visitors at once?"


    The speaker was the attending doctor, apanied by two middle-aged men in white coats with golden-rimmed sses.


    With a forced smile, Zhang Yuman said, "I¡¯m really sorry. Our family¡¯s son-inw doesn¡¯t understand the rules and insisted oning in, making a spectacle of us."


    The attending doctor replied, "Since they are family, visiting is alright, but we can¡¯t have so many people at once."


    Zhang Yuman snorted, "Did you hear that? You, the son-inw, and you, the adopted daughter, have visited now. Aren¡¯t you going to listen to the attending doctor? Get out quickly, so you don¡¯t disturb the old master¡¯s condition."


    The attending doctor said, "Let them make some room. These two are experts we¡¯ve specially invited. Make some space for them to examine Mr. Hong."


    "Of course, thank you so much, experts!" Zhang Yuman nodded repeatedly.


    Ye Feng also wanted to see what the experts could find, so he didn¡¯t say anything and simply moved aside.


    The two experts, looking very imposing, said nothing and went straight to the bedside. They then took out various detection instruments from their cases and began examining Hong Zhenguo thoroughly.


    Seeing this, Ye Feng couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows in secret.

 Chapter 39 People from the Divine Doctor Sect

    These two so-called experts, from the way they examined him, obviously were nothing more than a charade.


    After checking for quite a while, Hong Tianming finally couldn¡¯t help but ask, "What do the experts think, have you found anything?"


    Only then did the two experts put away their instruments, slightly shaking their heads and sighed, "No need to look any further."


    "No need to look any further? What do you mean by that, experts?" Hong Tianming asked.


    "No need to look any further means exactly that there¡¯s no need to continue," the expert said. "Prepare for the worst; he doesn¡¯t have much longer to live, I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t make it through the night!"


    "Won¡¯t make it through the night? May I ask, experts, what illness does my father have, or has he been poisoned?" Hong Tianming asked tentatively.


    "Poisoned? If he were poisoned, why would hisplexion be so pale? We have already examined his mouth, nose, and eyes¡ªthey are all grayish white. If he were poisoned, it would certainly be ck, how could he possibly be poisoned!"


    The two experts asserted confidently, followed by another sigh: "Although our medical skills are excellent, we are not endowed with vast divine ability. One of his feet has already stepped into the coffin, and even King Yama must have already marked him for collection. We surely can¡¯t snatch him back from death, can we?"


    "If we talk about someone in the world with such medical prowess, our master possesses such skills. However, our master is a reclusive highbrow whose whereabouts are always uncertain. We don¡¯t know where he has wandered off to, and even if we did find him, I¡¯m afraid it would be toote!"


    "Prepare for the worst, there¡¯s no use in struggling anymore. If it had been two days earlier, we might have still had a way to extend his life!"


    After the so-called experts finished speaking, they picked up their small case and were ready to leave. But before departing, they didn¡¯t forget to turn around and say: "Don¡¯t forget, our consultation fee is not cheap¡ªa total of two million for each of us. Although we cannot save the patient, the fee must still be paid."


    Zhang Yuman said with a smile, "Of course, thank you both for your trouble. The consultation fee will certainly not be shortchanged."


    Only then did the experts hum in acknowledgment, acting all the while as if they were reclusive highbrows throughout the entire process.


    At that point, Ye Feng could see for himself that these so-called experts were nothing more than those barefoot divine doctors found in the city streets. He didn¡¯t know how the Hong Family had managed to find them, or perhaps they never intended to save Old Master Hong and were just putting on an act.


    "What a joke, those who sell dog skin like ster dare to falsely im themselves as expert doctors!"


    Ye Feng had to step in, because he knew that if the dy continued, even if Hong Zhenguo were to be saved, he would be left with a lifelong disability.


    Upon hearing this, the two experts were furiously enraged and bellowed, "Who is this man, daring to speak irresponsibly here?"


    Zhang Yuman quickly tried to smooth things over with a smile, "Don¡¯t mind him, experts. He¡¯s just the son-inw who married into our Hong Family. He tends to speak without restraint; please don¡¯t take offense."


    The two experts said coldly, "People of our status naturally won¡¯t stoop to his level, but he must apologize to us immediately. Otherwise, if the word gets out, won¡¯t the reputation of us expert doctors be tarnished?"


    Ye Fengughed, slowly pushing his wheelchair forward and said coldly, "You two can¡¯t even diagnose what¡¯s wrong with the patient, and yet you have the audacity to call yourselves divine doctors. The thickness of your faces is simply beyond even the dog skin like ster you sell!"


    "How dare you!"


    The two experts were enraged and gritted their teeth, "Hong Tianming, is this the son-inw who married into your Hong Family? Let me tell you, we are people from the Divine Doctor Sect. But as for you, a cripple with broken legs, I¡¯m afraid you haven¡¯t even heard of the existence of our Divine Doctor Sect."


    "The Divine Doctor Sect? You¡¯re actually from the Divine Doctor Sect?" Ye Feng said, somewhat astonished.


    Ye Feng was certainly no stranger to the Divine Doctor Sect. In fact, it was him who had once propelled the establishment of the Divine Doctor Sect on a national level, although the founder was not Ye Feng himself.


    At that time, he was too busy organizing the formation of the Martial Alliance on a national scale to have enough energy and time, so he broke away from a Divine Doctor friend who hailed from the Valley of the Medicine King to establish the Divine Doctor Sect.


    Building the Divine Doctor Sect on a national level actually had many benefits. Firstly, it facilitated the exchange of information; if there were any difficult diseases, one could simply log into the internalwork to share andmunicate about them.


    Moreover, resources were also shared; if a city had any needs, it could post them on the internalwork and request other Divine Doctors to lend a hand.


    Mainly centered around traditional Chinese medicine within the country, the Divine Doctor Sect yed a significant role after its establishment; hence, its reputation had grown increasingly more prominent over the years, and its power had be ever more formidable!


    Two Divine Doctor experts sneered, "Unexpectedly, you little brat have also heard about the Divine Doctor Sect, so there¡¯s no need for nonsense. Apologize to us immediately and admit your ignorance."


    Ye Feng fixed his gaze on the two experts, asking, "Are you from the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect?"


    "Since this is Jiangdu, of course, we are from the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect!" The two Divine Doctor experts were quite proud.


    Ye Feng eximed, "I initially thought all members of the Divine Doctor Sect were real World-Saving Divine Doctors who rescue the dying and heal the injured. But now it seems that quite a few scum and failures have mixed in. It seems I must find time to give this matter some proper attention."


    Of course, Ye Feng did not utter thisst thought aloud; he was merely pondering it internally.


    "What did you say, you little punk? Daring to call us scum and failures, how dare you!"


    The two Divine Doctor experts immediately turned their heads to re at Hong Tianming, shouting angrily, "Hong Tianming, is this the worthless son-inw who hase to the Hong Family? Let me tell you, apologize right now, including your entire Hong Family. You must issue a public statement throughout Jiangdu, apologizing to the two of us."


    "Otherwise, we won¡¯t let today¡¯s matter rest so easily!"


    Hong Tianming panicked, he had never imagined that this crippled son-inw could cause such trouble. Not only had he offended the Lei Family and even the Jiang Family of Southern River Region Jiangnan yesterday, but now he had also needlessly provoked the Divine Doctor Sect.


    Zhang Yuman bellowed, "Ye Feng, is there no end to this? Even ignorance and arrogance should have their limits, shouldn¡¯t they?"


    Ye Feng coldly said, "You¡¯re right, we will not let this matter rest just like that. Call over the Sect Master of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect to see me immediately. Next, I¡¯ll show you how I will revive someone you im your Divine Doctor Sect couldn¡¯t save!"


    The two Divine Doctor experts retorted, "What did you say? Do you, a cripple, think you can treat this person who is already half in the coffin?"


    Ye Feng couldn¡¯t be bothered with the two of them. He turned to Hong Qingyan and instructed, "You, go prepare a set of silver needles immediately. Remember, I need the best silver needles, and be quick about it!"


    Hong Qingyan was skeptical but did not ask any questions. After witnessing what had transpired over the past few days, she somehow developed an innate trust in Ye Feng.


    "Okay, Big Brother Ye, I¡¯ll go prepare right away!" Hong Qingyan said before she immediately took out her phone to contact the housekeeper Uncle Liaan.


    Those two expert Divine Doctors coldly demanded, "You really want to attempt to save someone with acupuncture, very well. Our medical skills might not be too brilliant, so we will call over other masters from the Divine Doctor Sect!"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "We¡¯d like to see what kind of tricks you¡¯re trying to y. If you can¡¯t save the personter, it won¡¯t be toote for our Divine Doctor Sect to deal with you!"


    The so-called expert Divine Doctors finished speaking and directly made phone calls to summon more people.

 Chapter 40: You Are Not Worthy to Ask About My Identity

    ```


    The silver needles were quickly brought, encased in high-quality sandalwood.


    At the same time, the other two divine doctors from the Divine Doctor Sect had arrived; one was a portly middle-aged man dressed in dark robes, and the other was an elderly man with white hair and beard.


    "Vice Sect Leader, you¡¯ve actuallye as well," the two so-called experts from earlier said, somewhat surprised.


    Hong Tianming was also quite astonished, for the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect¡¯s Vice Sect Leader held a high position. Though not a local of Jiangdu, he had many connections with the powerful and the wealthy, possessing a very extensivework of rtionships.


    "I truly did not expect this, Sect Leader Luo, to grace us with your presence. I am deeply grateful," Hong Tianming said, bowing slightly as he paid his respects.


    This Vice Sect Leader was named Luo Keque, likely a name derived from the expression ¡¯a deserted street¡¯ suggesting few visitors. Twisting his grizzled beard, he huffed coldly, "You tter me. Normally I¡¯d be busy with other matters. Today, an elder from the Jiang family of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province arrived, and I was supposed to apany them."


    He then changed the subject, continuing, "However, I heard over the phone just now that someone dared to question the authority of our Divine Doctor Sect, iming this person possessed medical skills that can ¡¯Reach the Sky¡¯ and save lives from the very hands of King Yama. That¡¯s why I specifically made the trip here."


    Zhang Yuman responded with a forced smile, "You jest, Sect Leader Luo. This man is merely an inw of the Hong family, a cripple with a broken leg. What capability could he possibly have? Not to mention any medical skills. His words are no more than the ravings of ignorance, so please don¡¯t take them to heart, Sect Leader Luo."


    Hong Yuting suddenly stepped forward and said, "Mother, what you said is not correct. This Mr. Ye no longer has any rtion to us. This morning, he was thoroughly ousted from the Hong family and no longer has any tie to us. So, his actions do not represent our Hong family."


    "Right, right, what Yu Ting said is correct. That crippled Ye is ignorant and arrogant, offending the Divine Doctor Sect. Sect Leader Luo, please feel free to discipline him as you see fit."


    Hong Tianming shifted the topic, "Sect Leader Luo, since you have honored us with your presence, could I trouble you to take a look at my father¡¯s condition? Someone mentioned earlier that my father has been poisoned. Do you think that could be the case?"


    "Poisoned?" Luo Keque slightly raised his gray eyebrows, pondering, "Since that¡¯s the case, let me have a look."


    After saying this, he stepped forward with his hands sped behind his back and then extended his hand to feel Hong Zhenguo¡¯s wrist, his expression showing deep contemtion.


    After a long moment, he murmured, "Strange, truly strange. The pulse is so chaotic, and his life essence is rapidly slipping away. This is quite odd indeed. In all my years of practice, I¡¯ve never encountered such a phenomenon."


    "If it¡¯s about poisoning, it¡¯s possible, but it doesn¡¯t seem quite right either," Luo Keque shook his head slightly.


    Hong Tianming asked, "Sect Leader Luo, may I inquire if my father¡¯s illness is something you could possibly treat?"


    Luo Keque red, "What a joke. His life essence has already nearly drained away, one foot already in the coffin. He¡¯s marked by King Yama himself; even if my medical skill could ¡¯Reach the Sky,¡¯ I am powerless to ¡¯Reverse the Heavens.¡¯"


    Having said that, Luo Keque spoke out loud, "I say it as it is: if it can be cured, then it can be cured; if not, then it cannot. There¡¯s no shame in that. Moreover, I dare say that not only am I incapable, but even our Sect Leader probably would be powerless as well."


    "Forget about the Sect Leader, I¡¯m afraid there is no one in the entire Jiangnan Province of the Southern River Region who could cure him. As I said, prepare for the aftermath!"


    Hearing this, Ye Feng let out a coldugh, "You think it¡¯s incurable because you are too narrow-minded, the ¡¯art¡¯ you¡¯ve been exposed to is like that of frogs in a well!"


    Luo Keque¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and he demanded, "Are you implying that you can cure it?"


    Ye Feng, uninterested in further conversation, gestured, "Bring the silver needles over here."


    ```


    Luo Keque waved his hand to stop them and said, "Hold on, administering Silver Needles is no trivial matter. First tell Old Luo what disease Old Man Hong has exactly?"


    Hong Yuting also shouted, "That¡¯s right, as Sect Leader Luo said, you cripple must first give a reason, right? We can¡¯t let you mess around without exnation."


    Hong Tianming also nodded and said, "Although we have given up hope, we cannot let anyone act recklessly with Father¡¯s life!"


    Ye Feng sighed and said, "I have already said before that Old Man Hong has been poisoned, and it¡¯s not an ordinary poison, but Gu and Poison."


    "What did you say, Gu and Poison?"


    Among those present, Luo Keque had the greatest reaction, as the old man did have some medical expertise and had naturally heard of Gu and Poison.


    "Gu and Poison, from the Gu&Poison Sect in the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Territory?"


    At this point, Luo Keque had a sudden epiphany and said, "That¡¯s right, if it¡¯s indeed Gu and Poison, that exins it. His pulse is so chaotic, and his life essence is actually draining away continuously!"


    "Without a doubt, it must be Gu and Poison, and moreover, it is the extremely vicious Gu Insect that devours the life essence of the human body!"


    Ye Feng had already turned his back and picked up the Silver Needle, and said coldly, "As the Vice Sect Leader of the Divine Doctor Sect, it seems you¡¯re not entirely clueless, somewhat more capable than those two worthless Barefoot Divine Doctors from just before."


    The two so-called medical experts from before heard this and became furiously enraged, ready to burst forth on the spot.


    Luo Keque waved his hand to stop the two of them and looked at Ye Feng, "Since you can discern that he is afflicted by Gu and Poison, you must not be an ordinary person. May I ask where you hail from?"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ye Feng, without turning his head, said, "You are not worthy of asking about my identity."


    Luo Keque frowned slightly displeased, but before understanding the other party¡¯s background, he held back his temper and hummed, "What a grand tone you take, sir. Since you say you can cure him, then we shall see if you truly have the ability!"


    "I will put my words here now, if you can heal him, if you can remove the Gu and Poison from his body, Old Luo will apologize to you for the earlier words, but if you cannot, then you will owe an apology to my Divine Doctor Sect!"


    Ye Feng, ignoring them, said while holding the Silver Needle, "I am about to administer the needle. All unrted persons, get out now. Hong Tianming, stay behind, I will need your helpter."


    "Additionally, Old Luo, stay as well. You seem somewhat agreeable to me, so I will allow you to observe and learn, but as to how much of the Technique you¡¯ll grasp, that depends on your own fortune."


    Naturally, Luo Keque was seething with anger inside, considering that he was the respected Vice Sect Leader of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect, known as the World-Saving Divine Doctor. When had he ever been so belittled, especially by a wet-behind-the-ears brat.


    However, seeing the other party already holding the Silver Needle, after some thought, he still swallowed his anger. His years of discipline were not for naught, and besides, he couldn¡¯t figure out the depth of Ye Feng. Moreover, if the boy failed to cure the patient, it wouldn¡¯t be toote for him to act.


    Hong Tianming hesitated and asked, "Sect Leader Luo, what do you think we should do about this?"


    Without a second thought, Luo Keque said, "Do as he says, everyone else get out, and wait for me at the doorway!"


    Only then did Hong Tianming wave his hand, and Hong Yuting and Zhang Yuman among others red at Ye Feng but said nothing. After all, they never thought that Ye Feng could save him, and they were even eager for Master Hong to kick the bucket right now so they could naturally inherit the Hong Family fortune.

 Chapter 41: Phoenix Returns to Heaven Needle Technique

    The ward quickly quieted down, and Ye Feng slowly exhaled, trying to calm his heart as much as possible.


    Meanwhile, Hong Tianming had already helped Hong Zhenguo to his feet.


    Ye Feng pinched the needle, his gaze sharp as a knife, and with a whoosh, he thrust a needle into Hong Zhenguo¡¯s Heaven Gate acupuncture point.


    Watching from the side, Luo Keque was caught off guard and almost let out a cry of rm.


    "Good heavens, that¡¯s the Heaven Gate point¡ªthat¡¯s not something to mess around with. A slight inattention could result in a fatality. Goodness, this young man is actually..."


    Luo Keque couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly, but he soon realized that the other¡¯s needle technique was very skilled, straightforward and confident, and the uracy in finding the acupuncture point was extremely precise.


    "This technique..."


    Luo Keque couldn¡¯t help but muse to himself, "This kind of technique, I remember seeing it twenty years ago on a peerless divine doctor in the Valley of the Medicine King, but back then, even that doctor seemed hesitant to insert needles into a patient¡¯s Heaven Gate point so casually!"


    While Luo Keque¡¯s thoughts ran wild, Ye Feng had already swiftly inserted a dozen more needles; soon Hong Zhenguo¡¯s head, shoulders, and even his face and both the front and back of his chest were densely filled with needles.


    The more Luo Keque watched, the more he furrowed his brow, because this method of needling waspletely unheard of and unseen by him before. Despite his reluctance to admit it, he could see the extraordinariness in the other¡¯s needle technique alone.


    Luo Keque admitted to himself that he had not yet reached such a level, and in fact, was far from it!


    At that moment, it seemed Ye Feng had finished inserting the needles, and he exhaled lightly, casually wiping the sweat from his face.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Following that, Ye Feng exhaled and shouted, and white vapor suddenly surged from the palm of his hand, faint, andpletely unclear from Hong Tianming¡¯s angle.


    But Luo Keque had the perfect angle to see it clearly; as soon as he saw the white vapor escaping from Ye Feng¡¯s palm, he waspletely shocked, a thick look of astonishment spreading across his face.


    "This is... this is qi leaving the body! He¡¯s a Great Grandmaster, an actual Grandmaster of Inner Force, and moreover, a High-Level Grandmaster!"


    Luo Keque trembled with excitement, his mind eximing, "My goodness, this young man seated in a wheelchair, even with disabled legs, is actually a Grandmaster, and furthermore, a High-Level Grandmaster. How could this be possible!"


    If it weren¡¯t for the inappropriateness of the setting, Luo Keque might have cried out in shock.


    However, at that moment, Ye Feng made his move. His right thumb and forefinger continuously flicked at the silver needles inserted into Hong Zhenguo¡¯s body, and the white vapor emerging from his palm followed his fingers along the needles, prating into Hong Zhenguo¡¯s body.


    "The Needle Flicking Method, this is the legendary Needle Flicking Technique that was lost in ancient times, he actually knows how to use the lost ancient Needle Flicking Method, my heavens¡­"


    Luo Keque¡¯s old eyes bulged out like copper bells, his face showing a level of shock that couldn¡¯t be further intensified.


    Yet it was not over, for as Ye Feng finished his work, the silver needles inserted in Hong Zhenguo¡¯s body began to tremble, humming unceasingly.


    Listening carefully, it sounded like a phoenix calling, very pleasant and clear.


    "This is... this is the lost Ancient Phoenix Returns to Heaven Needle Technique, my ancestors..."


    Luo Keque could no longer suppress the excitement in his heart and cried out in rm; the young man before him had given him an intensely shocking experience.


    Initially, the fact that the other was a High-level Grandmaster of Inner Force was enough to astonish him, but what was utterly unexpected was that he also mastered the Needle Flicking Technique, regarded with regret in the domestic field of Chinese medicine as long lost.


    Even more devastating was that he also knew the anciently renowned Phoenix Returns to Heaven Needle Technique that was said to have the power to reverse fate!


    It was only at this moment that Luo Keque had absolutely no doubt that this unassuming young man before him was truly a peerless divine doctor; his medical skills were iparable not just in the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect, or the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province Divine Doctor Sect, but even those old divine doctors from the Divine Doctor Sects of the capital could not match him.


    "Open his mouth!" Ye Feng suddenly ordered.


    Hong Tianming, clueless as to why,plied.


    Just then, a scarlet insect no bigger than a green bean scuttled out of Hong Zhenguo¡¯s mouth, seemingly in a state of panic.


    With swift hands, Ye Feng reached out and caught the insect in his palm.


    "Bring me that sealed bottle!" Ye Feng instructed again.


    Hong Tianming dared not disobey and handed over the bottle.


    Unscrewing the cap, Ye Feng ced the tiny red insect inside and then sealed the bottle tight. He didn¡¯t intend to kill the Gu immediately, keeping it forter use since he wanted to track down the hidden perpetrator who had used the Gu and Poison.


    If it had been ordinary poison, it might have been different, but now that the Southern Territory¡¯s Gu&Poison Sect was involved, he had to investigate thoroughly.


    Afterpleting these tasks, Ye Feng finally took a deep breath, his face drenched in sweat and his whole body appearing somewhat weakened.


    The consecutive needling, especially the use of the Phoenix Returns to Heaven Formation Technique, had drained a great deal of his Inner Strength.


    Luo Keque, looking as if in a trance, said, "It was forced out. The Gu insect was actually forced out. Truly, it is the Phoenix Returns to Heaven Formation from the ancient legends, known as one of the Three Great Needles of the Ancients."


    "The Three Great Needles of the Ancients are indeed formidable," he continued, "but theplexity of using the Needle Flicking Technique is not minor. At the very least, one must be a Great Grandmaster and cultivate Inner Strength. That threshold is notmonly surmounted!"


    At this point, Ye Feng waved his hand and said, "It¡¯s fine now,y him down. Old Man Hong is out of life-threatening danger."


    Hong Tianming hadn¡¯t yet gathered his wits; he was an outsider. It is said that the hustle and bustle is for outsiders, while those on the inside watch the path. He couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of the situation and within one or two minutes, the treatment was over.


    "That¡¯s it? What about my father?" Hong Tianming couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    "He is no longer in serious danger," Ye Feng stated. "In theing period, he must rest quietly. He has lost a great deal of Life Essence, fortunately, he had a strong constitution to begin with. With proper rest, he should be able to return to a normal state."


    Ye Feng put away the Silver Needle and then slowly maneuvered his wheelchair to face the other way.


    Thump...


    For Luo Keque, it came without warning; he kneeled down abruptly, rigidly kneeling before Ye Feng.


    "Greetings, Divine Doctor Ye," he said, intensely moved and utterly sincere. "Just now I was blind to the greatness before me, failing to recognize your true worth, Divine Doctor. I implore your forgiveness for my earlier disrespect."


    "Enough, get up and speak," Ye Feng gestured.


    "Yes, Divine Doctor Ye!" Luo Keque then stood up.


    Ye Feng looked at him and asked, "Did you see anything from the Needle Technique just now, and what have you learned?"


    On hearing this, Luo Keque was utterly dumbfounded as he had been far too absorbed in astonishment to keep his mind on learning.


    It seemed that Ye Feng had anticipated this reaction and chuckled, "Nevermind, this Needle Technique has exceedingly high requirements. Even if you remembered the gist, without Inner Strength, you would still be unable to perform it."


    So Luo Keque simply nodded incessantly, bending halfway at the waist in front of Ye Feng like a novice disciple listening to his master¡¯s reprimand.

 Chapter 42 As Stupid as a Pig

    Suddenly, Luo Keque became very ufortable. As the Vice Sect Leader of Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect, he seemed quite uneasy at this moment.


    Seeing him in such a state, Ye Fengughed and said, "From now on, the care and recuperation of Old Man Hong will be your responsibility. As the Vice Sect Leader of Divine Doctor Sect, you should have that ability, shouldn¡¯t you?"


    Luo Keque immediately felt honored and nodded repeatedly, "Divine Doctor Ye, rest assured, I will do my utmost to attend to Mr. Hong¡¯s recuperation."


    Ye Feng nodded slightly, then asked, "What is the name of the Sect Leader of Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect, and why didn¡¯t hee just now?"


    Luo Keque replied, "Divine Doctor Ye, the Sect Leader heard that today, in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province¡¯s Jiang Family, a master has arrived. Moreover, today is the day of the sparring meeting for the three great ancient families of Jiangdu. Worried about any unforeseen incidents, he took many of the sect¡¯s disciples to that ce."


    Ye Feng couldn¡¯t help but sneer, "So eager, I suppose he went to curry favor with the Jiang Family?"


    Luo Keque fell silent because he couldn¡¯t respond to that, nor dared he. He didn¡¯t dare to speak ill of the Sect Leader behind his back. Only the person in front of him, who not only possessed miraculous medical skills but was also a fearsome High-Level Grandmaster, would dare to disregard the Sect Leader.


    Not to mention the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect, even the Jiang Family would have to treat someone of such terrifying medical skills and abilities on an equal footing.


    Ye Feng said nothing more and waved his hand, "Let theme in now."


    Hong Qingyan just came in and immediately asked, "How is it going, how is Grandpa now?"


    Hong Yuting said coldly, "What else could it be? You cannot seriously be expecting this useless son-inw to cure Grandpa, can you? Don¡¯t make such an international joke. If he had the capability, pigs would be able to climb trees."


    Zhang Yuman also expressed her dissatisfaction, "Sky Bright, you¡¯re just too kind. Although there¡¯s the saying that a dead horse should be treated like a live horse, you shouldn¡¯t just let any cats or dogs randomly mess around with Grandpa¡¯s treatment."


    Hong Tianming was about to speak when the two so-called expert doctors from earlier coldly interrupted, "You, the cripple in the wheelchair, have nothing to say now, do you? Just now, you were boastful and rude to us."


    "Now, immediately kneel down, apologize to us, and offer an apology to our Divine Doctor Sect!"


    The two had a righteous look, but in fact, as soon as they came in, they had quickly observed the elderly man lying on the bed and saw no change, of course not realizing that this was only because the Gu insect had only just been forced out and there hadn¡¯t been time for a recovery yet.


    Unfortunately, these two so-called expert doctors didn¡¯t understand this principle.


    Ye Fengughed, turned his head to look at Luo Keque, who was awkward on the side, and smiled, "Sect Leader Luo, these two disciples of the Divine Doctor Sect demanded that I kneel down and apologize to them and to your sect. What are your thoughts on this?"


    Suddenly, there were two crisp ps!


    Luo Keque raised his hand and pped the two men twice hard across their faces, scolding, "Truly blind as dogs, daring to ask Divine Doctor Ye to kneel? Not only ignorant, but you also don¡¯t even understand the principle of respecting others!"


    "Tomorrow you need not report to Divine Doctor Sect again. Pack your bags and get out today!"


    The two so-called expert doctors were still unconvinced and wanted to argue.


    However, Luo Keque no longer gave them the opportunity. He turned around, bowed to Ye Feng, and said with utmost respect, "May I ask Divine Doctor Ye, if you are satisfied with this oue? If not, I can be more severe and revoke their licenses."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Seeing this, the two so-called expert doctors dared not utter another word.


    Ye Feng waved his hand decisively, "Of course, their licenses should be revoked. Such quack doctors who understand nothing, continuing to let them practice medicine is nothing but harmful to others and themselves. Let them get lost!"


    Luo Keque bowed, "As you say, Divine Doctor Ye. I will see to it immediately."


    After saying that, he turned to leave, but suddenly, as if remembering something, turned back, bowed and continued, "By the way, Divine Doctor Ye, now that you have graced our Jiangdu, if possible, I would like to invite you to visit our Divine Doctor Sect when you have time. I wonder..."


    Before he had finished speaking, Ye Feng said coldly, "We¡¯ll talk about thatter, first make the Sect Leader of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Secte to see me!"


    "It¡¯s Divine Doctor Ye, I will certainly convey your message!"


    After Luo Keque spoke, he red at the two so-called experts and shouted angrily, "What are you two still doing standing there, get lost now!"


    Soon, the people from the Divine Doctor Sect left dejectedly, and the ward suddenly became quiet.


    Zhang Yuman, Hong Yuting and the others were stunned in ce, looking at Ye Feng, not knowing what to say for a moment.


    Hong Wei walked over and asked, "Dad, is Grandpa¡¯s illness really cured?"


    Hong Tianming nodded and said, "It¡¯s cured, he just needs to recuperate for a while, and then there should be no big problems."


    Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuman sneered to herself, "Is that so, what¡¯s so great about that, who cares about his medical skills?"


    Hong Yuting also rolled her eyes and said coldly, "Exactly, a dog trying to catch mice, being a busybody. Does this old fool really think we want him to get better?"


    Ye Feng, hearing this, could not help but be furiously angry.


    Just as he was about to erupt, a group of people suddenly entered the ward, led by Shen Minghua, the General Manager of Hongtian Group.


    Behind Shen Minghua, there were also two middle-aged men in suits and leather shoes carrying briefcases, who looked like they should be assistants orwyers.


    "Well, everyone is here, that¡¯s good, saves me another trip to inform you all," Shen Minghua lifted the corners of his mouth, looking like the smirk of a petty person, no longer having theposed and capable air from before.


    Hong Tianming, not understanding, smiled and said, "Minghua has arrived, are you here to visit the old man? That¡¯s thoughtful of you."


    Shen Minghua immediately waved his hand and said with a cold sneer, "No, don¡¯t get me wrong, I don¡¯t have the leisure toe for a visit. Today, I am here to notify you of a draft resolution from the board of directors of the Hongtian Group."


    "A draft resolution from the board of directors, what resolution?"


    Hong Tianming frowned slightly, then said coldly, "Neither my father nor I, both directors of the group, are present. What kind of resolution can the group issue?"


    Shen Minghua suddenly burst into loudughter,ughing so hard that he bent forward and backward, huffed and said, "I tell you, Hong Tianming, you really can be so stupid, simply like a dumb pig, no,paring you to a pig would be an insult to the pig¡¯s intelligence."


    Hong Tianming became furiously angry and shouted, "Shen Minghua, what do you mean by this?"


    "What do I mean? You still don¡¯t understand until now?"


    Shen Minghuaughed coldly, mocking him, "Could it be that you have forgotten that yesterday you had already privately transferred your eight percent stake in the Hongtian Group to me?"


    "I did transfer it to you, so what?" Hong Tianming still didn¡¯t understand.


    Shen Minghua let out a slight sigh, shook his head and said, "It seems you really are beyond help. Old Hong Zhenguo, that old thing, has a forty-three percent stake in the group, and together with your eight percent, originally you had over half the group¡¯s shares; the Hong Family had an absolute say on the board of directors."


    "But now..."


    Upon hearing this, Hong Tianming¡¯s face finally changed dramatically.

 Chapter 43 The Fox’s Tail Finally Shows

    Hong Tianming, even in his folly, understood now.


    Originally, the shares of the group in his hands, together with his father¡¯s portion, amounted to over fifty percent, giving him an absolute say on the board of directors. However, that changed yesterday when he transferred eight percent of his shares, making the situation uncertain.


    Especially now, with his father seriously ill and bedridden, the board of directorscked leadership. Coupled with the Hong Family producing such a worthless son-inw causing an uproar recently, the board was undoubtedly aware of the situation.


    What¡¯s more, Ye Feng had not only struck down Lei Zaiyan of the Lei Family but also injured the young master of the Jiangdu¡¯s Jiang Family in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Provincest night.


    The board could not possibly be in the dark about such matters, and fearing retaliation from the Jiang Family, they were likely having second thoughts.


    Especially since Shen Minghua was fanning the mes behind the scenes, Hong Tianming had little doubt that the board had already slipped from the Hong Family¡¯s control and was leaning towards Shen Minghua, the backstabber with honeyed words.


    Shen Minghua chuckled, "My President Hong, oh no, I can¡¯t call you that anymore, as the board has just made a preliminary decision to remove you from your position, and also to remove Hong Qingyan¡¯s role as acting president, as well as dismissing the former president Hong Zhenguo from all his duties in the group!"


    Hong Yuting, hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but scream, "No, how is this possible? You, a mere general manager, even with the eight percent of shares from my dad and your own five percent, only hold thirteen percent altogether. You have no authority to make such a decision!"


    Hong Wei also snorted coldly, "Shen Minghua, you always seemed respectful and modest, but who could have guessed you were such a viin? You actually aspire to seize control of the Hong Family Group. Don¡¯t even think about it, it¡¯s simply impossible!"


    "Impossible?" Shen Minghuaughed, augh filled with self-satisfaction. Grinning, he continued, "I¡¯m not afraid to tell you that the board, aside from your Hong Family, has already reached a unanimous agreement and now possesses more than half of the shares."


    "In other words, the current board can make any decision it wants, even without the Hong Family. Do you understand now?"


    Hong Qingyan turned to Hong Tianming and asked, "Dad, is the board really as he says it is now?"


    Hong Tianming remained silent, with nothing more to say. He had transferred his shares yesterday out of fear of retaliation from the Jiang Family, but he could never have imagined it would lead to this.


    Shen Tianming finally sighed, "Shen Minghua, I have to admit, you yed the part of the conniving viin all too well. Youy in wait for ten years, earning theplete trust of our Hong Family, only to turn out to be such a low person."


    At that moment, Hong Qingyan kept quiet. Even as the acting president of the group, she hadn¡¯t held the position long and held little power to speak of. Moreover, she was never one to talk much. She couldn¡¯t help turning her head to look at Ye Feng.


    Because she suddenly remembered what Ye Feng said to her during her grandfather¡¯s seventieth birthday some time ago. He had mentioned that Shen Minghua, who appeared wless and seemed to desire nothing, wasn¡¯t tempted by women or wealth but was actually plotting something significant.


    Only then did Hong Qingyan realize that what Shen Minghua truly coveted was the Hongtian Group!


    Shen Minghua spoke earnestly, "As the manager, oh no, as ofst night, the board has decided and unanimously elected me as the new president of the group. I came here today not to consult with you, but to dere the oue."


    Shen Minghua stood stunned on the spot, nearly losing his bnce and copsing.


    Zhang Yuman quickly supported him, consoling, "It¡¯s not the end of the world. Since things havee this far, Tianming, you needn¡¯t me yourself. Besides, we¡¯ve already transferred the shares and converted some properties into bank deposits yesterday. We can simply leave Jiangdu if ites to that."


    Shen Minghua suddenly said in a cold voice, "I¡¯m sorry, but you can¡¯t leave Jiangdu just yet."


    Zhang Yuman asked sternly, "What do you mean by that?"


    Shen Minghua slightly turned to the side and, pointing to the two people behind him, said, "These gentlemen, I believe you must recognize them¡ª the group¡¯s legal advisors. They will announce the second matter for which our President came here today."


    One of the legal advisors stepped forward, took out a document, opened it, and said, "Appointed by the board of directors and after an investigation, it was found that during Hong Tianming¡¯s tenure as President of the group, there were cases of unclear personal finances. Additionally, several ventures of the group are also suspected of illegal activities.


    After discussions, the board has reported the matter to the police."


    "Following preliminary investigations by the police, all personal assets of the former President of Hongtian Group, Hong Tianming, are now frozen, and he cannot leave Jiangdu for the time being!"


    "Furthermore, his wife, Zhang Yuman, during her time as finance manager of Hongtian Group, has also engaged in using her authority for personal gain to the detriment of the public interest. The police have been involved, and her personal assets have been frozen as well. She too is not allowed to leave Jiangdu without permission!"


    Upon hearing this, Hong Tianming and Zhang Yuman couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, both copsing to the ground, devoid of strength.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Mom... Dad..."


    Hong Yuting and Hong Wei cried out in shock and hurried over, helping the two of them up.


    "It¡¯s over, it¡¯s all over now. Our Hong Family, we¡¯re truly finished now," Zhang Yuman wailed, pping her thighs and looking up to the heavens.


    As the group¡¯s general manager, she indeed was involved in using thepany for personal gain, and she knew this better than anyone. The amount was not small. When the Hong Family controlled the group, such things were tacitly understood and no one thought to take serious measures.


    But now, with the Hong Family¡¯s authority in the board weakened, everything was utterly ruined.


    Hong Tianming gritted his teeth and roared, "It¡¯s all my fault, I was too foolish to have listened to the vile Shen Minghua and transfer my share of the stocks to him while Old Master Hong was gravely ill in bed. Otherwise, none of this would have happened."


    Hong Yuting shook her head and snorted, "No, Dad, it¡¯s not your fault. You did it to protect our family. If anyone is to me, it¡¯s that useless son-inw who has been causing so much troubletely. If it weren¡¯t for his recent actions, you wouldn¡¯t have transferred your shares, leading us to this plight."


    Zhang Yuman also said, "Exactly, everything is because of that good-for-nothing son-inw, all of this chaos is his doing¡ªit¡¯s all his fault!"


    Hong Wei said, "What¡¯s the use of talking about this now? Dad, your prestige in the board isn¡¯t high, but grandfather stillmands great respect. Now that he hase out of danger, let him wake up, return to the group immediately, and reorganize the board."


    Upon hearing that Old Master Hong was out of danger, Shen Minghua¡¯s eyes briefly showed a flicker of panic, but it quickly vanished.


    However well he hid it, he could not escape the discerning eyes of Ye Feng, who was standing beside them.


    It was at this moment that Ye Feng truly confirmed that the one who had poisoned Hong Zhenguo was this man, and that all of this was part of his carefullyid ns.

 Chapter 44 Hong Yuting’s Despair

    Hong Tianming and his family werepletely powerless; it was a ssic case of being too clever by half, and in the end, they had lifted a rock only to drop it on their own feet.


    Shen Minghua seemed to suddenly remember something else, adding, "Oh right, about that estate of yours, the Hong Family, it¡¯s under investigation too. Of course, you may continue to live there for the time being, but please remember not to destroy anything or try to subvert the process!"


    "Once everything is rified, someone from the board wille to take over the house!"


    "Additionally, Hong Qingyan, as the acting president, I need you toe with me to the group now. The board needs you to go through the handover procedures, I¡¯ll wait for you outside!"


    After finishing his statement, Shen Minghua walked out without looking back, radiating an air of utter satisfaction.


    He had every reason to be satisfied, as he had bided his time for ten years, restraining himself with great effort for this day. Fortunately, heaven rewards the diligent, and he had finally seeded.


    Hong Qingyan was equally at a loss. She never expected that after her grandfather became critically ill, the Hong Family would suffer one catastrophe after another. As an acting president in name, she truly had little capability to handle affairs. At the moment, her heart was inplete chaos.


    After quite some time, Hong Tianming finally let out a long sigh, "Let it be, we shouldn¡¯t me anyone else. If we are to me, it¡¯s for our own stupidity. My father was right; we are just like a pool of mud, unable to stick to the wall!"


    "Qingyan, go to the group and take care of the handover with the board. In the world of business, when you lose, you lose!"


    Hong Yuting bit her lip and shrieked fiercely, "No, we may not necessarily lose. I am beautiful, and I¡¯ll go to Young Master Jiang right now, hoping he can help us. If he agrees, I believe the board will certainly show him some respect given the strength of the Jiang Family. As long as there is one director with more than five percent of the shares supporting us, we have a chance."


    Ye Feng heard this and couldn¡¯t help but shake his head inwardly, thinking they were still deluding themselves, still really thinking that her beauty was unparalleled?


    Zhang Yuman also said, "Yu Ting is right. Young Master Jiang had a good impression of youst night. He will definitely help, call him now."


    Hong Yuting immediately took out her phone, perhaps to show off, she put the call on speakerphone right in the hospital room.


    The call connected quickly, and Young Master Jiang¡¯s slightly irritated voice came through, "Who is this?"


    Hong Yuting replied with a smile, "Hello, Young Master Jiang, this is Hong Yuting."


    "Hong Yuting? Which Hong Yuting?" Young Master Jiang asked.


    Upon hearing this, Hong Yuting¡¯s heart sank. To think that after all the flirting she had done yesterday, he didn¡¯t even remember her name.


    "Hong Yuting of the Hong Family of Jiangdu, we met at the banquetst night, Young Master Jiang, do you remember now? Oh, and I¡¯m calling today to ask for your help with something..."


    Before Hong Yuting could finish, Jiang Tianlong on the other end of the line roared impatiently, "Don¡¯t mentionst night¡¯s banquet to me! The Hong Family, is it? Your damn son-inw who came knocking at your door broke five of my fingersst night, and I haven¡¯t even settled the score with you yet, and you expect me to help?"


    "Do you think you¡¯re so beautiful that I¡¯d fall for you,ing from a third or fourth-level family? Let me tell you, even if I were interested, it would just be for fun. Wait and see, my Jiang Family will deal with your Hong Family sooner orter!"


    With that, Jiang Tianlong hung up the phone with a snap.


    Hong Yuting stood there, trembling with rage, as if she had lost her soul, because the appearance and charm she had taken such pride in seemed utterly worthless in the eyes of others. She had always dreamed of marrying into a great household in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, but it had all been an illusion.


    At that moment, even the usually self-assured Zhang Yuman didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Hong Qingyan turned to Ye Feng and asked, "Big Brother Ye, given the current situation, should I still go to the group?"


    Ye Feng replied with a smile, "Of course you should."


    "But I¡¯m a bit scared..."


    "Don¡¯t worry, with me here, there¡¯s no need to be afraid. I guarantee that no one else will cheat you out of what belongs to you and your grandfather," Ye Feng¡¯s tone was firm.


    For some reason, seeing the confidence on Ye Feng¡¯s face made Hong Qingyan feel less panicked. Her heart settled down surprisingly peacefully, as if Ye Feng¡¯s support behind her meant she no longer needed to feel lost or bewildered.


    Hong Yuting seemed to have regained herposure and sneered coldly, "The things that belong to her, no one else can take away, you guarantee as her husband who¡¯se knocking. What can you guarantee? Now, our Hong Family is done for, are you saying you still have a way to take it all back?"


    Hong Qingyan grew angry, and she, who usually spoke little and disliked arguing, unexpectedlyshed out at Hong Yuting, "The Hong Family is doomed because of your foolishness, not his. Don¡¯t keep calling him useless. Big Brother Ye¡¯s legs are broken, but tell me, what has he done wrong all this time that you mock him again and again."


    "Now, you¡¯ve messed up the group, and you still me him. Do you have no shame?"


    "You... you wretched creature, a wild child the Hong Family picked up, dare to challenge us, do you think you have the right?" Hong Yuting shouted.


    "True, I was adopted by grandfather, but that¡¯s a hundred times better than you, who only knows how to flirt and unt yourself. You think you¡¯re so self-assured. I tell you, without grandfather to back you up, with your mannerisms, you¡¯d just be brothel material in ancient times."


    "Let¡¯s go, Big Brother Ye!" After letting all that out, Hong Qingyan immediately pushed Ye Feng out of the hospital room, leaving Hong Yuting and the others dumbfounded in their spot.


    They could never have imagined that this usually quiet and tolerant girl, a wild child that had been picked up, would explode like this today, and her words were so sharp.


    Once outside the hospital room, Hong Qingyan couldn¡¯t go on any longer, leaning heavily against the door frame and gasping for air, her face already ashen, with cold sweat breaking out.


    She was not good with words and was extremely frail. Today¡¯s argument had taken almost all the strength from her body.


    Seeing her like this, Ye Feng suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of tenderness.


    Hong Qingyan took a couple of deep breaths, managing a smile, "Don¡¯t worry, Big Brother Ye, I¡¯m not as weak as you think. Let¡¯s go."


    Ye Feng nodded and then turned to look at Seventeen, his voice grave, "Have you prepared everything I asked you to over these past days?"


    Seventeen bowed and replied, "Rest assured, my lord, everything has been prepared well in advance."


    The group soon set off and, after circumventing arge part of Jiangdu City, finally arrived at the Hongtian Group building. This was Ye Feng¡¯s first visit to the Hong Family Group headquarters; it looked quite grand, truly befitting a powerful corporation in Jiangdu.


    Without facing any obstacles, Ye Feng and the others went straight inside.


    "Miss Hong, President Shen is already waiting for you in the boardroom. He is requesting your presence now!" a lobby receptionist approached and said.


    Ye Feng asked, "Have all the other board members arrived?"


    The receptionist replied, "Today is the general meeting of shareholders and directors, they should naturally be in attendance. Please, go on up, and don¡¯t let President Shen wait too long."


    Ye Feng nodded without saying more and then apanied Hong Qingyan straight to the top floor.


    At the door of the boardroom on the top floor stood two bodyguards in suits and sunsses, looking imposing and formidable.


    "I¡¯m sorry, this is a board meeting; only Miss Hong may enter. The rest of you, please wait outside!" The bodyguards stretched out their hands to stop them.


    "Seventeen!" Ye Feng uttered just two words.


    Seventeen made a move, whooshing forward like a tiger pouncing on its prey.


    Then, with two thuds, the two sturdy bodyguards were lying on the ground, clutching their abdomens,cking even the strength to stand up.


    The door was pushed open, Ye Feng sat in a wheelchair, and Hong Qingyan pushed the chair, slowly entering the boardroom.


    Around the boardroom¡¯s round table sat over a dozen directors and shareholders. Shen Minghua sat at the head, and upon seeing the two enter, he leapt to his feet.


    "Ye, you dare intrude into the corporate boardroom; you¡¯ve got some nerve!" Shen Minghua bellowed and then turned to introduce Ye Feng to the other directors and shareholders, "Gentlemen, you might not recognize him. This wheelchair-bound cripple is the recent son-inw of the Hong Family, named Ye Feng."


    An elderly shareholder snorted, "He¡¯s just the Hong Family¡¯s son-inw. Since when does he have the right toe to the boardroom? Old Hong Zhenguo has been overly indulgent with members of the Hong Family, hasn¡¯t he?"


    "Indeed, does he really think that the current boardroom is still his own private forum, that the Hongtian Group is still his Hong Family¡¯s personal property?"


    "Shen Minghua, call someone to get this cripple out immediately!"


    Many of the old shareholders in the board meeting shouted and jeered; it seemed they had long been dissatisfied with Hong Zhenguo.


    However, Shen Minghua scoffed and said, "Fellow shareholders, there¡¯s actually no harm in this. This person here is the fianc¨¦ of the former acting president, Hong Qingyan. Even if he is present, he won¡¯t affect our board meeting one bit, let alone a wheelchair-bound cripple. What kind of waves can he possibly make?"


    With that said, Shen Minghua leaned down slightly, came close to Ye Feng¡¯s ear, and whispered with a sneeringugh, "Mr. Ye, you were disrespectful to me on the night of Old Man Hong¡¯s seventieth birthday. Today I¡¯ll let you witness how the Hong Family falls intoplete defeat!"


    Ye Feng nodded and said with a smile, "Good, then I¡¯ll wait and see."


    "You won¡¯t be disappointed!" said Shen Minghua with a cold huff as he stood straight up, cleared his throat, and called out, "Since everyone¡¯s here, the board meeting shall now officially begin."


    Shen Minghua continued, "First on the agenda, is the dismissal of the former group president Hong Zhenguo, the dismissal of the former group executive president Hong Tianming, the dismissal of the group financial manager Zhang Yuman, and the dismissal of the former acting president Hong Qingyan. Please cast your vote now!"


    "I agree!"


    "I second that!"


    "Seconded..."


    Almost all the shareholders present unanimously agreed.


    A slight smile yed on the corners of Shen Minghua¡¯s mouth as he said, "With more than half of the board¡¯s votes, the motion passes, approved!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Shen Minghua then said, "Next on the agenda, the board proposes that Shen Minghua, myself, assumes the role of the new president of the group."


    "I agree!"


    "Agreed!"


    "Seconded!"


    All the boardroom shareholders raised their hands to vote. In truth, they had already colluded well before the meeting. The procedures of the meeting were merely a formality.


    Seeing this, Shen Minghua couldn¡¯t help butugh; he had won, he truly had won.


    However, Ye Feng suddenly said, "I disagree!"

 Chapter 45: The Three Major Clan Assembly Martial Events

    "You disagree?"


    Shen Minghuaughed, as if he was listening to a clown huffing and puffing, he couldn¡¯t help but snort coldly, "You, a mere son-inw of the Hong Family with not a single share in the group, disagree? What right do you have to speak?"


    The other group directors and shareholders also mored, "We¡¯ve said it before, get this Hong Family son-inw out! Disrupting the board meeting, what sort of manner is this?"


    "Shen Minghua, you are now the president of the group, hurry and have someone throw them out!"


    Shen Minghua turned his head to look at Ye Feng, with a twist of his mouth, mocked word by word, "Did you hear that? Now it¡¯s me who will have people throw you out like rubbish crawling insects, or will you crawl out like losing dogs yourselves?"


    Ye Feng¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change at all, he sat in the wheelchair, unmoved, as the Northern Border King who had survived battles with thousands of troops, this petty scene couldn¡¯t stir any waves in his heart.


    "I don¡¯t need a reason, just this, Seventeen!" Ye Feng gestured towards the young man standing like a javelin behind him.


    "As youmand, my lord!" Seventeen promptly took a document out of the briefcase and then tossed it onto the round table.


    "Gentlemen, no need to rush, take a look at this document first, and then decide on the board meeting¡¯s agenda."


    Ye Feng waved his hand and smiled, "I believe this document won¡¯t disappoint you."


    "What is this thing, another stray cat or dog causing amotion, disrupting the proceedings of the board meeting!"


    A dubious director and shareholder of the group picked up the document but after skimming the first few lines, his expression drastically changed.


    "This is¡­ this is, my God, this..." In shock, he became incoherent, even his entire person started to panic.


    Seeing this, the other shareholders asked, "Old Liang, what exactly is in those documents that has caused you such distress?"


    Other people also picked up the document, and after reading just the first few lines, their faces changed dramatically as well, panic ensuing.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Upon seeing this, Shen Minghua¡¯s heart sank, suddenly realizing something was amiss, he too picked up the document, nced at it, and then froze on the spot.


    "How¡­ how is this possible, this document¡­"


    Shen Minghua started, then suddenly turned his head, ring at Ye Feng beside him.


    Ye Feng simply smiled, "What about these documents, didn¡¯t they meet your expectations?"


    It turned out that these documents contained records of all the uwful deeds carried out by the board directors and shareholders during their tenure, including the abuse of power to embezzle group assets, and the private condoning of crimes, Shen Minghua included.


    Though Shen Minghua acted with apparent propriety and strict self-discipline as the general manager, in reality, he was sanctimonious. In the past ten years, he had filled his own pockets using his managerial position, with amounts that were simply staggering.


    The conference even pointed out directly that Shen Minghua did notck houses; he owned five properties, one of which was an old mansion, and besides that, he had five luxury sports cars under his name.


    All these details in the document were not simple records, but evidence.


    Shen Minghua no longer had the earlier smugness and arrogance, he stood there stiffened, his body already strengthless.


    Ye Feng swept his gaze across the room and said word by word, "Now, I would like to say something. Do you all feel that I have the right to speak?"


    The earlier mentioned Director Old Liang swallowed hard and said, "Mr. Ye, please feel free to speak."


    Ye Feng gave Shen Minghua a nce and said, "I propose that the board dismiss Shen Minghua from his position as the president of the group. What do you all think?"


    A dozen group directors and shareholders looked at each other, then suddenly one person snorted, "Shen Minghua, this hypocrite who seemed so upright, I thought he was diligent and contributed to the group, but he turned out to be such a deceitful, greedy person."


    "He used his position as the general manager to carry out such shameless deeds, and there is even evidence on top of that, pointing out that Shen Minghua had used the convenience of the group¡¯s harbor ships to privately transportrge shipments for otherpanies, which is simply touching the group¡¯s bottom line!"


    "It also states that three years ago, one night, Shen Minghua driving a sports car hit and killed two people, then directly fled the scene of the crime. Such a person is morally bankrupt and does not deserve to be the president of the group!"


    "I agree, dismiss Shen Minghua from his position as the group¡¯s president!"


    "Such a person should be handed over to the police directly, with the documents and evidence as proof, Shen Minghua kept a college girl on the side, leading to her pregnancy, andter refused to own up to it. When the woman came to make a scene, she ended up falling from the eighteenth floor, this is just¡­"


    "Murder without hesitation, such a person should be sentenced to death, I also agree!"


    With two people leading the way, all the directors of the group agreed, and Shen Minghua, who held merely thirteen percent of the shares, couldn¡¯t sway the overall situation, and the tide immediately turned.


    Upon hearing this, Shen Minghua could no longer support himself; like his spine had been snatched away, he slumped into the chair.


    "It¡¯s over¡­ it¡¯s all over now,pletely over!"


    Shen Minghua kept wailing, but by that time, others had already lost interest in paying him any attention.


    Ye Feng then said, "The second item on the agenda, reinstating Hong Zhenguo as president and restoring Hong Tianming to the position of executive president. What do you all think?"


    "Mr. Hong was the pir of the Group, our backbone. Although Hong Tianming¡¯s way of handling things is not seasoned enough, overall, he¡¯smendable. I agree to restore his position as president!"


    "I agree as well!"


    "Seconded!"


    "Passed unanimously, the resolution is effective!"


    Only then did Ye Feng nod slightly and say, "Gentlemen, rest assured, after today, I will erase all records pertaining to you from the documents and evidence. But as for Shen Minghua..."


    As he spoke, Ye Feng turned his head towards Shen Minghua and said in a deep voice, "I actually wanted to give you a chance, but you have truly disappointed me. When I came here, I had already contacted Yan Xu, that sooty head, and he is now waiting outside the conference room."


    "What did you say? You¡¯ve already contacted Chief Supervisor Yan Xu?" Shen Minghua¡¯splexion changed dramatically, and he becamepletely panicked.


    "Ye Feng, no, Mr. Ye, I previously failed to recognize your eminence and offended you. I beg you, please don¡¯t hand me over to Yan Xu, don¡¯t give these documents and evidence to Yan Xu; otherwise, my life is over, truly over."


    Upon saying this, Shen Minghua knelt down directly.


    Ye Feng, however, didn¡¯t bother to look at him again. Hong Qingyan, maneuvering her wheelchair, had already begun to slowly leave the boardroom.


    As the doors to the boardroom opened, Yan Xu stepped in. The first thing he did was to bow, paying his respects to Ye Feng.


    "Mr. Ye, upon receiving your notice, I rushed here without dy, hoping to be of service," said Yan Xu with great respect.


    Ever since he had called his superiorsst time to inquire about Ye Feng¡¯s background and they had given unclear answers, which led his superiors to make further calls, even the higher-ups were still without the authority to ess that information.


    That was when Yan Xu realized that the young man seated in the wheelchair before him was essentially a legendary figure, and therefore, he had no choice but to show his respect.


    The shareholders of the board were stunned, unable to believe what they were seeing before them. The Iron Face Judge of Jiangdu, known for his impartiality, was being so respectful to this young man. This...


    Ye Feng handed another set of documents about Shen Minghua to him and said, "I don¡¯t need you to do anything troublesome, just handle it fairly and impartially."


    Yan Xu looked over the documents and roughly understood the situation. He nodded then and there, "Rest assured, Mr. Ye, I will handle it ording to thew!"


    Ye Feng said nothing more and turned to leave.


    Yan Xu was not in uniform, considering that it might negatively affect the Hongtian Group. He was dressed in in clothes, apanied by only two equally in-clothed subordinates.


    "Mr. Shen Minghua, although I¡¯m dressed in in clothes today, you know who I am, I hope. I¡¯d like you toe with me. Of course, you may resist, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of the consequences!" Yan Xu said, his voice stern.


    Where could Shen Minghua still dare to resist? At this moment, he had already copsed to the ground like a lump of mud.


    "Take him away!" With a wave of Yan Xu¡¯s hand, his two subordinates lifted Shen Minghua and took him out of the boardroom.


    As he was leaving, Yan Xu didn¡¯t forget to bow to Ye Feng and say, "Thank you, Mr. Ye, for helping me to crack several old cases."


    Ye Feng just waved his hand, "Go take care of the things you need to take care of."


    "Yes, then I shall not disturb you any longer, Mr. Ye!" With that, Yan Xu made his exit.


    "Damn!" Ye Feng suddenly eximed.


    Hong Qingyan, who had just rxed, became anxious again and quickly asked, "What¡¯s the matter, Big Brother Ye? What¡¯s happened now?"


    Ye Feng smiled bitterly, "In dealing with the Hong Family issue, I¡¯ve forgotten about the Fu Family. Today is the day of the martial arts exchange between the Three Great Ancient Families of Jiangdu."


    Hong Qingyan also suddenly realized the gravity of the situation and eximed, "This is bad. The Jiang Family from Jiangnan Province surely sent people, and Fu Shen and Fu Zi will definitely not be able to hold on!"


    "No time to dy, let¡¯s leave immediately for the Jiangdu Martial Arts Hall!" Ye Feng said, gesturing with his hand.


    After speaking, they hurriedly left the board, exited Hongtian Group, got into the car, and sped towards Jiangdu Martial Arts Hall.


    Meanwhile, Jiangdu Martial Arts Hall was not as noisy and bustling as usual because today was reserved for the martial arts exchange between the Three Great Ancient Families, hence it was closed to the public.


    However, the parking lot outside the martial arts hall presented a rare sight, hosting over a dozen limited-edition luxury cars. Even the rtively less expensive ones had prices over a million.


    At this moment, Fu Shen and Fu Zi had already arrived, as well as people from the Lei Family and the Long Family. In addition, people from the Jiang Family of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, who should not have been there, also arrived, and they brought not just a few people but also one of their elders, a Half-Step Grandmaster.


    Fu Shen and Fu Zi stood at the entrance, looking around anxiously, "It¡¯s already thiste, and our third brother still hasn¡¯t arrived. Should we give him a call?"


    After thinking for a moment, Fu Shen said, "No need. Perhaps it¡¯s better that he doesn¡¯te today. After all, we¡¯re facing the Jiang Family, a Half-Step Grandmaster. It¡¯s likely of little help even if he came."

 Chapter 46: Life or Body?

    Fu Zi let out a long sigh, feeling disappointed would be an understatement, after all, every young girl idolizes heroes, and she truly hoped that Ye Feng was that legendary hero, wishing for his powerful return to rescue the Fu Family from dire straits.


    But now it seemed...


    "I may have been too selfish," she thought, "after all, Third Brother has left Jiangdu for ten years and doesn¡¯t have much affection for the Fu Family. It¡¯s unreasonable to ask so much of him. Perhaps I should be more generous and agree to Young Master Jiang¡¯s demands."


    Fu Zi¡¯s mind was filled with chaotic thoughts.


    Fu Shen said, "Let¡¯s not wait any longer, the martial arts sparring should be about to start, let¡¯s go in. No matter what, today Second Brother has already prepared for the worst. If it reallyes down to it, we¡¯ll just leave Jiangdu."


    Fu Zi gave a bitter smile and said, "After what happenedst night, Young Master Jiang had five fingers twisted off. Do you think the Jiang Family will let us leave easily today?"


    Fu Shen sighed, "What does it matter? We can¡¯t be spineless cowards without integrity, like that old bastard Fu Zuoxing, can we?"


    Fu Zi shook her head without saying more, then the two of them entered.


    The venue was divided into three parts, with the Lei Family¡¯s people in the middle, the Long Family¡¯s on the left, and the people from the Fu Family were isted in a corner on the right.


    As for the Jiang Family, they were basically at both ends of the arena, evidently the directors of this martial arts contest.


    As soon as Fu Wenhua saw Fu Shen and hispanion walk in, he immediately stepped forward quickly and asked, "How did it go, did that foster son, Ye Feng, show up?"


    Fu Shen and Fu Zi didn¡¯t speak, their faces filled with a sense of dejection.


    Fu Wenhua nced outside the door and saw no oneing. He immediately burst into a torrent of curses, "That damn brat, he caused a ruckusst night, after promising everything would be sorted, and now he¡¯s nowhere to be seen. He¡¯s leaving us Fu Family to clean up his mess?"


    Fu Qing also stepped forward and said, "Brother, you¡¯re still too naive. I, your sister, never had any expectations for that crippled foster son. If he had been a son-inw to those prestigious families in the capital, perhaps our Fu Family could have had some hope."


    At this point, Fu Qing shrugged slightly, her face full of disdain as she mocked, "But look at him, he¡¯s just the son-inw of the Hong Family, and a cripple with a broken leg at that. You¡¯re expecting him to help? That¡¯s less likely than a sow climbing a tree!"


    Fu Zuoxing also snorted angrily, "That damn brat, if he doesn¡¯te today to bear the brunt of the Jiang Family¡¯s rage, what are we supposed to do!"


    Having said this, Fu Zuoxing suddenly red at Fu Shen and said through gritted teeth, "The troublest night was caused by you two. Today, you sisters have to take responsibility. In the uing fight with the Lei Family, you must lose to them!"


    "Furthermore, Fu Zi, listen to me well. You understand what Young Master Jiang wants. Tonight, you¡¯ll go to the hotel booked by Young Master Jiang and serve him well. Perhaps that might appease Young Master Jiang¡¯s anger, otherwise our Fu Family is finished!"


    Fu Shen bit back a retort, "To deliberately lose to the Lei Family is one thing, but to expect my sister to attend to that waste Jiang Tianlong, that¡¯s impossible!"


    Fu Zuoxing coldly retorted, "I¡¯m not discussing this with you. Let me tell you, the Jiang Family has brought quite a number of people today, and have nowpletely taken control of the entire martial arts hall. Do you really think that if we don¡¯tply with them today, we¡¯ll live to walk out of here?"


    Fu Wenhua¡¯s face suddenly paled, and in a panic, she said, "Dad, you¡¯re not serious, are you?"


    Fu Qing was also scared and said, "Dad, we had nothing to do with what happenedst night. It was all Ye Feng, that waste. He¡¯s the one who injured Young Master Jiang, surely the Jiang Family won¡¯t kill us, will they?"


    "They might not kill us, but the Fu Family is certainly doomed. However, it¡¯s different for Fu Shen and Fu Zi."


    Fu Zuoxing gave Fu Zi a stern look, "Think carefully about what I said. Whether you choose your life or your body depends on your performance today."


    After saying this, Fu Zuoxing waved his hand dismissively and walked to the front, carrying the attitude that even if the Fu Family was finished today, they would bring down two others to cushion their fall.


    At this moment, Jiang Tianlong, with his right hand wrapped in a white bandage, walked over apanied by two elder experts.


    "How unexpected, that cripple surnamed Ye didn¡¯te today? He¡¯s got some nerve, daring to miss this event and openly disregarding my Jiang Family!"


    Jiang Tianlong suddenly flew into a rage, turned his head to Fu Zi and said, "Pretty girl, rest assured, I¡¯m always magnanimous. I can promise you right now that if you ept my demands tonight and obedientlye to my room, I might spare the Fu Family."


    As he spoke, Jiang Tianlong smirked, his mouth curling up in distasteful enjoyment as he chuckled, "Even though my right hand¡¯s five fingers are broken, I still have my left hand¡¯s fingers to satisfy you tonight."


    "You despicable bastard!" Fu Zi was so angry that her face turned purplish, her tall figure trembling with rage.


    Jiang Tianlongughed loudly just then, a tall young man from the Lei Family stepped forward and said with a slight bow, "Young Master Jiang, almost everyone has arrived, and the appointed hour for the contest hase. Should we not start?"


    Jiang Tianlong snorted, "What are we waiting for then!"


    "Yes, let¡¯s begin!" The young man from the Lei Family said and then turned and gestured slightly to the stage.


    The host of today¡¯s martial contest was an elder from the Lei Family, though not Lei Zaiyan. Considering his arm was already broken, he wasn¡¯t suitable to make an appearance.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, as per the tradition of the Three Great Ancient Families, we are here today to hold a martial artspetition to spar and exchange skills. This year¡¯s biggest industry division in Jiangdu concerns thend in the East New District and the construction of the port!"


    "In ordance with the agreement, this year¡¯s victor will have priority!"


    In fact, the martial artspetition is notplicated: each of the three families sends representatives to spar andpete in matches. The matches are determined by drawing lots topete in three rounds, which in turn decides the division of the industry for the year.


    Of course, although that is the case on the surface, the actual operation is much moreplex because there can be many insider dealings in the contest. For example,st year the Lei Family could hire experts, or they could use authority to force other families to purposefully lose.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The bnce of power used to be equal among the three great families, with basically fairpetition among them. But afterst year, that bnce had been broken.


    Now among the three families, the Lei Family unofficially takes the lead. The Lei Family¡¯s overall strength might not surpass the Long Family¡¯s, but with the Jiang Family backing them, even the Long Family would not dare to overly defy the wishes of the Jiang Family.


    "Now, let the representatives from the three familiese up on stage and draw lots to determine the order of thepetition!" the host announced.


    Throughout this period, the Jiang Family¡¯s elder and master expert, a Half-Step Master, just sat next to the stage in a Taishi Chair with his eyes closed, conserving energy, not even ncing at the people in the venue.


    It appeared he had no intention of entering the fray, but of course, that was only because it wasn¡¯t yet his time to make a move.


    Jiang Tianlong slowly walked over and came beside the elder, bending over and whispering, "Third Grandfather, the kid who injured mest night hasn¡¯t shown up today."


    "Hasn¡¯t shown up, has he fled?" The elder didn¡¯t open his eyes but simply spoke indifferently. Yet even so, his entire being exuded an air of authority.


    "He must have fled. Should we send people to capture him? That kid has broken five of my fingers, and this debt must be paid with his blood!" Jiang Tianlong said.


    The elder pondered for a moment before replying, "Rest assured, he won¡¯t be able to escape. Go and contact Yan Xu now, have him find people. And the operatives in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province will also make a move. Let¡¯s see how that greenhorn can escape from the palm of our Jiang Family!"


    Immediately, Jiang Tianlong nodded and said, "Yes, Third Grandfather, I¡¯ll get in touch right away!"


    On the other hand, Fu Shen, upon hearing the host¡¯s call, stepped forward to ascend the stage.


    Fu Zi hastily shouted, "Second Brother, this year¡¯spetition is totally under the Jiang Family¡¯s control. There¡¯s no need for us to make a futile struggle. Just admit defeat when it¡¯s your turn."


    Yet Fu Shen shook his head firmly, grinding his teeth, "No, Zi¡¯er, I¡¯ve made up my mind. I will not intentionally lose. On the contrary, I¡¯ll strike back¡ªeven if I die today, I will beat a member of the Lei Family half to death to avenge our foster father!"


    "No, Second Brother, you mustn¡¯t do this. You¡¯ll die..."


    Before Fu Zi could finish, Fu Shen had already stepped onto the stage. Then, Long Shaowu from the Long Family had also made his way up.


    What surprised everyone, though, was that the person from the Lei Family who stepped up was not a young family member but an old man from the Jiang Family.


    "This... An expert from the Jiang Family is directly representing the Lei Family in thepetition? How shameless can the Lei Family get, not even caring about saving face anymore?"


    Voices of discussion immediately spread from the Long Family¡¯s side.


    "The Lei Family has been shameless for some time now. They had this expert from the Jiang Family step inst year, or else Fu Zuoming from the Fu Family would not have been beaten to death!"


    "Right, now that you mention it, I remember. The one who beat Fu Zuoming of the Fu Family to death on the stagest year was this expert from the Jiang Family, wasn¡¯t it?"


    "Exactly that man. It looks like this year, the Jiang Family still has no intention of letting the Fu Family off the hook. Plus, with what happenedst night with Jiang Tianlong¡¯s fingers being broken, I¡¯m afraid Fu Shen will follow in his foster father¡¯s footsteps today!"


    "Oh, speaking ofst night, what about that foster son from the Fu Family named Ye Feng? He was quite arrogant yesterday, so why haven¡¯t we seen him today? Could it be that he didn¡¯te?"


    "Haven¡¯t seen him, he probably got scared witless, or maybe he has already fled by now. I thought this Ye fellow was something special, but it turns out he¡¯s just a cowardcking the guts!"


    Fu Zi¡¯splexion had already drastically changed, and she yelled at Fu Shen, "Second Brother, don¡¯t be impulsive. Just admit defeat when it¡¯s your turn, you absolutely mustn¡¯t act rashly!"


    Fu Shen had his back to her and did not reply, his eyes fixedly staring at the blue-robed elder from the Lei Family, with towering rage flooding in his eyes.


    "The three representatives, pleasee over to draw lots!" the hostmanded.


    The order of the drawing was quickly determined, which didn¡¯t really surprise many, because the Lei Family was in control of the lots that were drawn.


    The first match would be between the Fu Family and the Lei Family, which meant Fu Shen against the blue-robed expert from the Jiang Family.


    "This Fu Shen, he¡¯s quite a man. It seems he¡¯s likely to meet his end here today¡­"

 Chapter 47 You’re Actually a Great Grandmaster?

    Everyone was acutely aware that yesterday, Ye Feng, the foster son of the Fu family, had injured and broken five fingers of the Jiang family¡¯s eldest young master. Today, the sudden invitation of this Elder of the Jiang family by the Lei family side clearly indicated a desire for revenge.


    Fu Shen knew this too, but he equally knew that he had no way out.


    "It was you, it was you who killed my foster father, on the very same dayst year, on this same tform!" Fu Shen clenched his teeth and bellowed furiously, word by word.


    The Jiang family elder, with his hands behind his back, sneered, "That¡¯s correct, it was me. Are you thinking about seeking revenge?"


    Grinding his teeth, Fu Shen roared, "Today, even if it means death, I won¡¯t make it easy for you!"


    At this moment, the host waved his hand and shouted, "Since both parties are ready, let¡¯s begin the first bout of this martialpetition right now!"


    No sooner had his words fallen than the Jiang family elder, Jiang Biehe, made his move. As a Ninth Stage of External Strength expert, his attack was lightning fast.


    Even though Fu Shen was prepared, he still failed to react in time.


    With a thump!


    Fu Shen¡¯s chin was struck by a fist, and he immediately fell backward.


    Jiang Biehe¡¯s elbow strike hit Fu Shen¡¯s abdomen, causing him to curl up like a shrimp on the spot.


    However, this was far from enough, Jiang Biehe clearly had the intent to kill and did not give his opponent any chance to concede and beg for mercy.


    Another sound of collision!


    With a sweeping kick, Jiang Biehe knocked Fu Shen to the ground, blood spewing from the corner of his mouth.


    The crowd below watched in silence, feeling somewhat emotional, as this scene was strikingly simr to the one fromst year.


    Last year, when Fu Zuoming of the Fu family dueled with the Lei family, he was also killed by Jiang Biehe with almost the same moves.


    Just three moves, and Fu Zuoming had breath hisst without even a chance to surrender!


    Now, his foster son Fu Shen was subjected to the same treatment, but it seemed he was tougher; he hadn¡¯t died after three moves.


    Fu Shen spat out blood but still struggled to get up!


    Fu Zi, upon seeing this, had bloodshot eyes and yelled hysterically, "Second brother, hurry... hurry up and concede. Concede right now, or you¡¯ll really die. Just surrender, don¡¯t do something foolish!"


    "Surrender? Impossible. Even in death, I will never surrender!" Fu Shen staggered to his feet from the ground.


    Jiang Biehe sneered, "Seems you still have some spirit? But..."


    As he spoke, he threw a punch, and Fu Shen once again hit the ground hard, copsing onto the surface.


    Jiang Biehe walked over, step by step, looming over him and said coldly, word by word, "A mere worm dares to contend with the Jiang family? Your foster father was overconfidentst year, and this year you are naively ignorant!"


    After finishing his words, Jiang Biehe stepped directly onto Fu Shen¡¯s palm, then gradually applied pressure, nearly crushing Fu Shen¡¯s five fingers.


    Fu Shen had almost be a Blood Man and was still struggling incessantly.


    Suddenly, he burst forth, biting fiercely into Jiang Biehe¡¯s thigh, tearing off arge chunk of flesh.


    "Ahh¡­" Jiang Biehe roared in pain, kicked Fu Shen off the tform with one foot.


    "Die¡­ I¡¯ll kill you, I must kill you!" Jiang Biehe¡¯s face twisted in pain as he rushed toward Fu Shen after a quick bandaging.


    By then, Fu Shen had already passed out, covered in blood and his life hanging by a thread.


    Fu Zuoxing, Fu Wenhua, and the rest of the family looked on with indifference, their expressions chillingly cold.


    Fu Zi rushed over, stood in front of Fu Shen, and shouted, "Stop! You can¡¯t kill him. What right do you have to kill him?"


    Jiang Biehe bellowed, "On what right? Simply because my surname is Jiang. Get out of the way, woman, or I¡¯ll kill you too!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Fu Zi didn¡¯t retreat an inch, already bracing herself for a fight to the death.


    Suddenly, Jiang Tianlong shouted loudly, "Uncle Six, I want this woman. Spare her life for me, hand her over, and I will deal with her!"


    "Fine!" Jiang Biehe snapped, ready to charge over.


    "Stop!" Just then, from outside the martial arts hall, an incredibly enraged shout rang out.


    Everyone turned toward the sound and then saw a woman with a limp, pushing a steel-made wheelchair, slowly entering from outside, followed by a man dressed in ck who resembled a Vajra.


    The young man in the wheelchair was actually not at all old, around twenty-three or four. With a buzz-cut and chiseled facial features, he had a rugged handsomeness rather than the creamy softness of popr young idols.


    Especially his pair of eyes, at this moment, they were like unsheathed steel daggers!


    This young man in the wheelchair was none other than Ye Feng!


    Jiang Tianlong immediately yelled, "Uncle Six, he is the foster son of the Fu family, the very one who broke my five fingersst night!"


    Jiang Biehe suddenly looked up at Ye Feng and said word for word, "It was you who injured my nephew?"


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t answer him, nor did he look at the people surrounding him. He pushed his wheelchair forward, arriving in front of Fu Shen, and then bent down to examine him closely.


    Fu Zi had already been crying her eyes out, "Third Brother, it was this man who beat Second Brother; it was him! Last year on this very day, my foster father was also killed by him!"


    Only then did Ye Feng suddenly lift his head and red at Jiang Biehe, his eyes brimming with intense killing intent.


    However, Fu Shen¡¯s injuries were too severe at the moment; Ye Feng needed to save him as soon as possible.


    "Third Brother, how is Second Brother¡¯s condition, is there still a chance to save him?" Fu Zi asked.


    "Don¡¯t worry, although Second Brother is critically injured, with me here, his life is not in danger!"


    As Ye Feng spoke, he quietly channelled a stream of inner strength into Fu Shen¡¯s chest with his right palm to protect his heart meridian.


    "Is the Sect Master of Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect present?" Ye Feng suddenly shouted angrily.


    Vice Sect Leader Luo Keque had already mentioned en route that the Sect Master had arrived early at the scene, eager to please the Jiang Family.


    "I am here, what does the gentleman require of me?" Suddenly, an elder dressed in a luxurious purple robe stepped forward.


    "What do I want? With a person injured to this extent, what do you think I want?"


    Ye Feng snorted coldly, staring at him as he said word by word, "The founding purpose of the Divine Doctor Sect is to heal the sick and aid the injured, to alleviate the suffering of those afflicted in the world. Could it be that you are unaware of this?"


    Sect Master Qi Tianmen of the Divine Doctor Sect responded with a cold huff, "The rules of the Divine Doctor Sect, as its master, I¡¯m naturally clearer about them than anyone else. However, the Divine Doctor Sect is not some charity organization; we don¡¯t just save any cats or dogs!"


    Upon saying this, Qi Tianmen sneered and nced at Ye Feng, "And who might you be, that you think you have the right to question my actions?"


    Ye Fengughed and stared at him as he said every word, "My identity is none of your concern. All you need to know is that you have already vited the sect¡¯s rules by noting forward to treat the injured in time. If you do not take action now to treat my Second Brother, I will strip you of your position as Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect."


    "Strip me of my Sect Master position?"


    Qi Tianmen was taken aback, then burst intoughter as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, "Utterly arrogant and ignorant. You also delude yourself into thinking you can strip me of my position as Sect Master? A cripple confined to a wheelchair, a foster son of the Fu Family, do you think you are the Chief Sect Leader of the Divine Doctor Sect?"


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t bother arguing with him any longer, turning his head to Hong Qingyan, "I forgot to ask earlier; contact Hong Tianming immediately, tell him to notify Luo Keque to bring healing medicine and rush here without dy!"


    Qi Tianmen sneered, "Vice Sect Leader Luo Keque holds what status and position; would he take orders from you?"


    Ye Feng already couldn¡¯t be bothered with him; now wasn¡¯t the time to settle ounts.


    "Jiang Biehe? Was it you who killed my foster fatherst year?" Ye Feng slowly turned his head, his gaze sharp as a de as he stared at the other party.


    Jiang Biehe instantly felt an immense pressure; however, sheughed the next moment, thinking he was just a disabled man confined to a wheelchair, and besides, the Jiang Family had yet another Half-Step Master expert present today. What was there to fear?


    "Indeed, it was I who killed Fu Zuoming. He lost a fair contest on the fighting stage due to inferior skills. What can a brat like you do to me?" Jiang Biehe sneered.


    "Very well, since that¡¯s the case, you may go to your death!" Ye Feng nodded slightly and slowly uttered two words, "Seventeen!"


    As soon as his voice fell, Seventeen pounced like a ferocious tiger, swift as the wind.


    "Not good!" Jiang Biehe¡¯s heart sank, realizing she was up against a formidable opponent and instinctively wanting to retreat.


    But how could she possibly evade? She was immediately seized by the neck by Seventeen.


    "Third Brother, save me..." Jiang Biehe managed only to cry out these words before her neck was twisted, and quickly she crumpled to the ground like a mudslide.


    "How dare you! Stop right there!" A thunderous roar erupted from within the martial arts hall as if a bolt from the blue.


    The Half-Step Grandmaster expert of the Jiang Family, who had been sitting at the edge of the arena, suddenly raised his voice. Yet ultimately, being only a Half-Step Master, he was incapable of projecting his inner strength externally and naturally failed to stop the assault.


    "He¡¯s dead... Uncle Six is actually dead, Uncle Six has been killed, Grandfather, Uncle Six was killed by this man!" Jiang Tianlong howled.


    "Daring to kill a member of the Jiang Family, you¡¯re courting death!"


    The Elder of the Jiang Family, Jiang Youhe, roared furiously, leaping high into the air towards Ye Feng.


    Ye Feng remained immovable in his wheelchair, even his facial expression did not change in the slightest.


    Seventeen shed, blocking in front of Ye Feng, and then threw a punch.


    Jiang Youhe subconsciously countered with a punch, and the two fists met, with their edges crossing each other.


    With a massive bang!


    Jiang Youhe was sent flying like a broken kite, striking over several chairs behind him, spitting blood on the spot with his right arm hanging limply, clearly broken.


    "You... you actually... actually repelled me with one punch, and broke my arm?"


    Jiang Youhe looked horrified, his eyes fixated on Seventeen as he said word by word, "You¡¯re a Grandmaster, you¡¯re actually a Grandmaster of Inner Force?"


    Everyone present heard these words and their faces showed shock. They turned their heads, looking incredulously at Seventeen.


    Seventeen still did not speak, and his face showed no expression. He usually didn¡¯t say much, only acting when given instructions by Ye Feng.

 Chapter 48: This Son-in-law Who Comes Knocking is Really Arrogant!

    Jiang Youhe looked pale and no longer dared to step forward.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Although a Half-Step Master was formidable, facing a true Grandmaster, he would still be easily killed in a single move.


    "So it turns out that a Grandmaster has been following this foster son of the Hong Family, no wonder he has been so brazen recently!" Long Shaowu sighed.


    "I remember now, wasn¡¯t it this guy who broke Lei Zaiyan of the Lei Family¡¯s arm a while ago? And the Chu Family, the turmoil they¡¯ve stirred up in Jiangdu recently, it¡¯s all because of this son-inw of the Hong Family!"


    "This son-inw really is audacious, he¡¯s a veritable Frenzied Son-in-Law!"


    The surrounding crowd whispered to each other, their expressions when looking at Ye Feng changing, since having a Grandmaster by one¡¯s side truly wasn¡¯t a minor matter.


    Take the three great ancient families of Jiangdu, for example, both the Lei Family and the Fu Family didn¡¯t have a Grandmaster; only the Long Family had slightly deeper resources, but they also only had one Grandmaster, who was the current patriarch of the Long Family and also the Leader of the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu.


    "However, he is after all wheelchair-bound and handicapped, having a Grandmaster by his side is fearsome, but in the end, there is only one, the Jiang Family of the Southern River Region is different, they alone have as many as three Grandmasters. This kid probably doesn¡¯t think that, with this, he can contend with the Jiang Family, right?"


    Long Shaowu of the Dragon Sound Pavilion curled his lip and sneered, "Also, the way he has caused such unrest in our Jiangdu city recently, his behavior is extremely rash. This Frenzied Son-in-Law of the Hong Family doesn¡¯t seem to have taken our grandfather, the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance, into consideration at all!"


    Long Shaogong nodded and said, "Exactly, our grandfather is still in secluded cultivation, once hees out, he will certainly not stand idly by, after all, the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu has the responsibility and duty to maintain peace and harmony in the Martial Dao World of Jiangdu!"


    Ye Feng could not be bothered with the murmuring of the three siblings of the Long Family, feeling that he was not to the point of stooping to their level. Everything would wait until that person came out of cultivation.


    Just then, Luo Keque hurried in with several people, rushing in from outside carrying a medicine box.


    Luo Keque didn¡¯t take the time to nce at anyone else but instead came straight up to Ye Feng, because on the way here, he had already learned the general situation.


    "Mr. Ye, rest assured, I will do my utmost to treat Mr. Fu Shen!" Luo Keque bowed and cupped his hands towards Ye Feng.


    "Much appreciated!" Ye Feng waved his hand.


    Luo Keque hesitated no longer, turned, and walked over to Fu Shen, who was still unconscious, then opened the medicine box and began the treatment, together with two assistants.


    Several times, Sect Master Qi Tianmen of the Divine Doctor Sect wanted to step forward to ask Luo Keque about the specifics because he noticed that Luo Keque¡¯s attitude towards this wheelchair-bound young man was quite unusual. However, considering the circumstances, he finally held back.


    At this crucial juncture, he did not want toplicate matters, not realizing that this was hisst opportunity because his hesitation hadpletely ruined his prospects.


    Jiang Youhe clenched his teeth and eximed angrily, "Ye, I really didn¡¯t expect that you, a wheelchair-bound cripple, would actually be able to enlist a Grandmaster. You, this son-inw of the Hong Family, do have some capabilities and methods!"


    Having said that, Jiang Youhe let out a breath and said with a heavy tone, "But do you think, with this, you can contend with the Jiang Family of the Southern River Region? I¡¯m not afraid to tell you that you have nowpletely offended the Jiang Family, and you are not far from death."


    Ye Fengughed and said, "I also can¡¯t believe that, even now, you still dare to jump around in front of me. A minor Jiang Family really thinks it¡¯s an imperial noble n? In my eyes, Ye Feng, your Jiang Family is nothing but ants!"


    "Seventeen, cripple his legs!"


    "And Jiang Tianlong, who dares to covet my sister, cripple his third leg, so he can never touch a woman again in his life!"


    "Also, the Lei Family, bold enough to collude with the Jiang Family and murder my foster father, cripple the limbs of the Lei Family¡¯s patriarch!"


    At Ye Feng¡¯smand, Seventeen moved again, pouncing out like a tiger descending the mountain.


    Jiang Youhe couldn¡¯t escape at all and had his legs crippled on the spot. As for Jiang Tianlong, seeing things go awry, he attempted to flee but was caught just as he reached the door, and then that part between his legs, along with those two things, was promptly ruined.


    Having done all this, Seventeen didn¡¯t linger at all and pounced toward the patriarch of the Lei Family, ruthlessly crippling the limbs of Lei Family¡¯s patriarch!


    No one present dared to intervene, nor did they have the ability to stop it; everyone was shocked into silence, so scared they hardly dared to breathe.


    Even the three siblings of the Long Family did not dare let out a single peep.


    Throughout the whole process, Ye Feng didn¡¯t even bother to give it a nce, for he, the sovereign of the Northern Border, was ustomed to witnessing battles involving thousands of troops. Such a scene before him was truly insignificant.


    Ye Feng turned his head and asked Luo Keque, "How is my second brother?"


    Luo Keque replied, "Fortunately, someone protected his heart meridian earlier, I¡¯ve applied the finest golden sore medicine to stop the bleeding, and now he¡¯s out of danger and no longer has a life-threatening condition. He only needs quiet recuperation for a period to recover."


    Though he didn¡¯t say it out loud, Luo Keque was well aware that protecting the heart meridian was no easy task, it must have been a Grandmaster who took action, and a High-Level Grandmaster at that, capable of projecting Inner Strength out of the body and with a very pure control over their own Inner Strength to dare to do so.


    Otherwise, if the control was off even slightly, it could directly damage the patient¡¯s heart meridian, which would result in certain death!


    Although Luo Keque wasn¡¯t a Great Grandmaster, he could tell that the one called Seventeen, although also a Great Grandmaster, had not yet achievedplete control over his Qi Force and Inner Strength. So without a doubt, it must have been the work of the young man sitting in the wheelchair in front of him.


    Ye Feng nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for your help, Mr. Luo."


    Luo Keque quickly stood up and, sping his hands, said, "Mr. Ye is too kind. It was but a trifling effort, and to be able to serve Mr. Ye is my honor!"


    Upon seeing this, Sect Master Qi Tianmen¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He found it hard to believe. Could it be that the vice sect leader of the proud and aloof Divine Doctor Sect was showing such respect, even reverence, to this man in the wheelchair?


    After a moment of thought, Sect Master Qi Tianmen feltpelled to walk over and ask, "Mr. Luo, did you know this Mr. Ye before?"


    Luo Keque smiled and replied, "To reply to the Sect Master, we did not know each other before; we only met today."


    "Then why..." Sect Master Qi Tianmen finally voiced the confusion in his mind.


    Knowing the situation at hand and that the Sect Master seemed to favor the Jiang Family of Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, as they sought to climb up to the Divine Doctor Sect in that province, Luo Keque chose not to borate. He only chuckled and said, "My acquaintance with Mr. Ye is also a recent one, but I am deeply impressed by his skills."


    With that said, Luo Keque closed his mouth, packed up his medicine box, and stepped aside, wanting no further involvement in the already chaotic situation in Jiangdu.


    Sect Master Qi Tianmen was taken aback, then gave Ye Feng another look but ultimately couldn¡¯t swallow his pride to ask further.


    Of course, the main reason Sect Master Qi Tianmen refused to bow his head was because of the Jiang Family. The Jiang Family from Jiangnan Province was exceedingly powerful, possessing not only three Great Grandmasters but also connections in the Southern Territory.


    It is known that the Southern Territory governs seven or eight provinces in the south, and aside from the Sovereign, there are four leaders and twelve Formation Lords under him. Fifteen years ago, the Jiang Family from Jiangnan even had a leader among their ranks, which showed the formidable power of the Jiang Family!


    Therefore, Sect Master Qi Tianmen was sure that this man in a wheelchair, even with a Great Grandmaster behind him, couldn¡¯t possibly contend with the Jiang Family. Thus, at this moment, he felt it was even more crucial to cling to the Jiang Family¡¯s coattails.


    "What are you all waiting for? Since we¡¯ve brought medicine, hurry and go treat the Jiang Family¡¯s wounded!"


    Realizing the situation, Sect Master Qi Tianmen waved his hand and scolded several disciples of the Divine Doctor Sect, who didn¡¯t dare to protest and quickly rushed towards Jiang Youhe and Jiang Tianlong.


    Seeing this, Luo Keque silently shook his head and sighed, thinking to himself that Sect Master Qi Tianmen, after all, was the leader of the Divine Doctor Sect but was blinded by foolishness, not being able to see the true big shot. Trouble seemed to be brewing.


    Ye Feng, however, slowly narrowed his eyes but for the moment couldn¡¯t be bothered with the flip-flopping Sect Master Qi Tianmen. He turned and asked, "Mr. Luo, did you happen to bring a stretcher with you?"


    "In response to Mr. Ye, indeed I did bring one. I will order someone to carry Mr. Fu on the stretcher and send him back to the Fu Family," answered Luo Keque.


    "Thank you for that. You¡¯ve done well; I see potential in you," Ye Feng said with a slight wave of his hand, and Hong Qingyan,ing to her senses, moved to push the wheelchair away.


    It wasn¡¯t until Ye Feng and others hadpletely left the martial arts hall that everyone finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Long Shaowu was the first to snort coldly, "That son-inw of the Hong Family is far too arrogant. He is utterly disrespectful of others!"


    Long Shaogong also huffed, "He alone has thrown the noble families of Jiangdu into chaos, showing no regard for the martial Dao world of Jiangdu. This cannot stand; we must report this to our grandfather. As the leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu, he must step in to suppress this man!"


    "If this son-inw of the Hong Family isn¡¯t suppressed, I¡¯m afraid the martial Dao realm of Jiangdu will never be able to hold its head high again. Grandfather will certainly not sit by idly once he learns of this," dered someone from Dragon Sound Pavilion.


    By this time, Jiang Youhe had awakened from his stupor; in fact, he hadn¡¯t fainted at all but had pretended to be dead because he was genuinely afraid that the other party would kill him.


    "Ye Feng, that son-inw of the Hong Family, a cripple confined to a wheelchair, you broke my legs, humiliated my Jiang Family. This enmity is irreconcble; my family¡¯s disgrace today can only be washed away with your blood!" Jiang Youhe roared towards the sky.


    As for the Lei Family, they werepletely silent at this point, because they knew the situation was beyond their capacity to be involved in.


    Fu Qing and Fu Wenhua were scared stiff earlier, and only now began to recover. Fu Wenhua tugged at the clothes of Fu Zuoxing, who was also in a dazed state, and said in a low voice, "Dad, what should we do now?"


    "Shh... don¡¯t talk, let¡¯s go, right now!" Fu Zuoxing ran off after speaking, not even caring for his son and daughter, fearing that the Jiang Family and the Lei Family might retaliate against them soon after regaining their senses.


    Only when they werepletely out of the martial arts hall did Fu Zuoxing take a long breath, feeling as though he had narrowly escaped a cmity.


    "Dad, what should we do now? Ye Feng, the foster son, seems rather formidable. Should we go and mend fences with him now?" Fu Wenhua asked after getting into the car.


    "Mend fences with him? You must have water in your brain," Fu Zuoxing scolded sharply. "Can¡¯t you see the situation? With themotion that Ye kid has caused today, his days are numbered. Do you think the Jiang Family will let him go?"


    Fu Qing nodded and said, "Right, Dad is correct. Not only should we not repair our rtionship with him now, but we must also sever all ties with himpletely and immediately send a message to the Jiang Family, stating that we have already driven that Ye out of the Fu Family and that today¡¯s incident has nothing to do with us!"


    "Exactly, that¡¯s what we should do. Otherwise, our Fu Family will sooner orter be dragged down by that cripple Ye!"

 Chapter 49 I Have a Hundred Ways

    When returning to the Hong Family, Hong Zhenguo had already been discharged from the hospital and was quietly recuperating in the Inner Courtyard.


    After the events of today, especially after hearing about what had happened at the Hongtian Group board meeting, the family of Hong Tianming seemed to show some awkwardness towards Ye Feng.


    "Our esteemed son-inw is back,e in quickly!" Hong Tianming was rather open-minded and was the first to make his stance clear.


    "Have you had dinner yet, son-inw? If not, I¡¯ll go and tell someone to prepare it right away!" Hong Tianming¡¯s attitude was quite attentive.


    However, it was Hong Yuting, with her arms crossed and leaning against the doorframe, who showed an unprovoked displeasure in her expression, and her look towards Ye Feng was filled with disdain.


    Hong Tianming hummed, "Yu Ting, what are you standing there for? Go and prepare dinner for our Hong Family¡¯s esteemed son-inw right now!"


    Hong Yuting immediately became unhappy and mored, "Why should I do it? I¡¯m not his woman and his fianc¨¦e is Hong Qingyan, not me, Hong Yuting!"


    It turned out that Hong Yuting was just sour grapes for not being able to have what she couldn¡¯t attain. Even though she already knew that this son-inw of the Hong Family was no ordinary person, due to previous events, she still refused to acknowledge him,rgely because of her unwarranted sense of superiority.


    Ye Feng also smiled and said, "No need, I¡¯m used to the food Qingyan makes. I¡¯m not ustomed to and don¡¯t trust food made by others!"


    Hong Yuting hummed, "What do you mean by that? Are you beating around the bush with your usations? Don¡¯t think you are something special just because you saved Grandfather and our Hong Family. Let me tell you, you are still a cripple with a broken leg!"


    "Enough!" Hong Tianming immediately became furious.


    Zhang Yuman couldn¡¯t help but say, "Look Tianming, I have no issue with the way you treat our son-inw, but why are you taking it out on Yu Ting? Did she do something wrong?"


    Hong Yuting rolled her eyes and said, "You must have heard about what happened at the Jiangdu martial arts school today. Now that our son-inw haspletely offended the Jiang Family, they surely won¡¯t let it go. We in the Hong Family should start thinking about what to do next!"


    Zhang Yuman nodded in agreement, "Yu Ting is right. The influence of the Jiang Family is not something ordinary people can provoke with impunity. This son-inw..."


    As she said this, Zhang Yuman turned her head to look at Ye Feng and asked, "Tell me Ye Feng, now that you¡¯re our son-inw, and not an outsider, can you share with us the truth about your background? Are you capable of standing against the Jiang Family?"


    Ye Fengughed and retorted, "What if I say I¡¯m not capable of contending with the Jiang Family? Would you kick me out or distance yourselves from me?"


    Zhang Yuman was taken aback, and Hong Yuting rolled her eyes, with a look that seemed to say, "Just wait for your doom."


    Hong Tianming chuckled and said, "Look at what our esteemed son-inw is saying. But no matter what, we should get to know each other better. Father has always said that you are no ordinary person. Could it be that youe from the Capital?"


    Ye Feng shrugged and replied, "As for my background, you¡¯d better not ask too much. Asking too much won¡¯t be good for you. Besides, you are not entitled to inquire!"


    Hong Tianming didn¡¯t press further, but Hong Yuting, rolling her eyes and pouting, said, "Look at that. With a bit of skill, he really thinks he¡¯s ascended to the heavens. Just wait. When the Jiang Family sends someone over, we¡¯ll see who has thestugh!"


    Zhang Yuman also said, "Yu Ting is right; we have to prepare. In my opinion, we should draw a clear line with him..."


    Before she could finish, Hong Tianming red at her with such fury that she was abruptly silenced mid-sentence.


    Ye Feng couldn¡¯t be bothered with these shortsighted folks. Just then, Hong Qingyan had finished preparing the meal, so the two of them started to eat, ignoring everyone else.


    The Hong Tianming family stood on the side of the hall, initially wanting to strike up a conversation, but not knowing what to say, leading to an extremely awkward situation.


    After all, Hong Qingyan had a kind heart. To relieve the awkwardness, she asked, "By the way, Uncle Tianming, how is Grandfather doing now? Is he feeling better?"


    Hong Tianming smiled and replied, "Much better. Luo Keque just came by, prescribed some medicines, and even assigned two disciples from the Divine Doctor Sect to take care of him."


    After listening, Hong Qingyan nodded and said no more. She was always a woman of few words.


    After dinner, Hong Qingyan returned to the Inner Courtyard to visit her grandfather, then Ye Feng suggested they go out for a while in the night.


    "You¡¯re going out now? Is there something you need my help with?" Hong Qingyan asked with concern.


    "No need. You stay here and take care of Grandfather. I¡¯ll be right back!" Saying this, Ye Feng took Seventeen with him and they drove off.


    Seventeen drove and asked, "My Lord, where are we headed?"


    "To the Jiangdu Supervision Bureau!" Ye Feng responded with four words and took out his phone, sending a message to Yan Xu, the Iron Face Chief Supervisor.


    Seventeen didn¡¯t ask any further questions, elerating the car and quickly arriving at the entrance of the Inspectorate.


    Yan Xu was personally waiting at the entrance. Seeing Ye Feng getting out of the car, he quickly stepped forward to assist him, smiling, "Mr. Ye honors the Supervision Bureau with your presence, it truly tters me."


    Ye Feng replied, "Let¡¯s cut the small talk. I¡¯m here tonight because I need to see Shen Minghua!"


    Shen Minghua couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and say, "Shen Minghua has basically been convicted already, and has confessed to everything necessary, there¡¯s really no need..."


    But he immediately shut his mouth as he saw the stern look in Ye Feng¡¯s eyes.


    "Yes, I¡¯ll take Mr. Ye right there!" Yan Xu dared not waste any more words, as he had simply been making a casual remark.


    Under Yan Xu¡¯s orders, Shen Minghua had already been brought into a sealed room, and out of a sense of understanding, had all the cameras removed.


    "Chief, this might not be appropriate, right? What if something happens inside, wouldn¡¯t we then..."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Don¡¯t ask what you shouldn¡¯t. You just need to follow orders, understood?" Yan Xu¡¯s face was stern.


    "Yes, I understand. I¡¯ll remove all surveince and guards right away!" The two subordinates had no choice but to obey.


    Ye Feng and Seventeen entered the sealed room and then closed the door behind them.


    Shen Minghua¡¯s hands and feet were locked up. Seeing the neers, he couldn¡¯t help but be surprised.


    "It¡¯s you, how did youe back here?" Shen Minghua asked weakly, a stark contrast to his earlier arrogance, as he had now be a walking corpse,pletely devoid of hope for life.


    After all, he was well aware of the crimes he hadmitted over the past decade, not only embezzling public funds and abusing power for personal gain but also hit-and-run manughter...


    All these crimes were enough for him to spend the second half of his life in prison.


    Ye Feng, seated in a wheelchair, slowly approached him and smiled, "I came to see you."


    "To see me?" Shen Minghua let out a coldugh and said, "What¡¯s there to see about me now, what¡¯s worth your time toe and see me for?"


    Ye Feng stared at him and said word by word, "You should know why I¡¯m here to see you."


    Shen Minghua¡¯s expression was unchanged as he sneered, "I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about."


    "You do. You know better than anyone why Elder Hong Zhenguo went to the hospital, why he was poisoned." Ye Feng¡¯s voice was cold and his gaze sharp as a knife.


    Schen Minghua¡¯s face flickered with a moment of panic, but he quickly regained hisposure and pretended to bepletely clueless.


    "Poisonous Gu!" Ye Feng began slowly: "You could get ahold of the Southern Border Poisonous Gu, which means there¡¯s someone behind you. Otherwise, with your abilities, you couldn¡¯t have essed it. That¡¯s why I suspect you were acting on someone else¡¯s orders!"


    Shen Minghua scoffed loudly, "I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about!"


    "Pretending to be crazy and stupid in front of me?" Ye Feng snickered.


    "So what?" Suddenly, Shen Minghua looked up, staring at Ye Feng with a fierce smile, "I¡¯m well aware that the crimes Imitted will have me locked up for life. My life is over and has no meaning anymore, so why would I tell you anything?"


    Ye Fengughed, shaking his head, "You may not have any hope of getting out for the rest of your life, but that doesn¡¯t mean you have to die."


    Upon saying that, Ye Feng sized him up and then spoke deliberately, "Since you came in, your hairstyle is still slick and stylish, your clothes are still neat. That means you still hold out hope for life, you don¡¯t want to die, you¡¯re afraid of death and suffering!"


    "So? What are you trying to say?" Shen Minghua lifted his head to meet Ye Feng¡¯s gaze directly, grunting through clenched teeth, "You¡¯ve turned me into this, I¡¯d love to tear you limb from limb. Do you still expect me to tell you the origin of the poisonous gu?"


    Ye Feng shook his head with a sigh, "Dealing with someone who isn¡¯t afraid to die might indeed be difficult for me, but for someone like you, I have a hundred ways to make you reveal the truth!"


    Shen Minghua snorted.


    Ye Feng continued, "You probably saw yesterday, Yan Xu listens to me. With just onemand from me and with his abilities, your future prison life will certainly be ¡¯interesting.¡¯ I can assure you that the second half of your life behind bars will be worse than death!"


    Shen Minghua¡¯s face changed, true fear setting in. He had already abandoned any hope for life, but this fate worse than death...


    Ye Feng continued, "By then, even if you wish for death, you won¡¯t be able to achieve it. Conversely, if you disclose the truth, reveal the source of the Poisonous Gu, I can pass on a message to Yan Xu. Although it won¡¯t be enough to get you out, at least you wouldn¡¯t suffer too much inside."


    "Are you serious?" Shen Minghua suddenly lifted his head.


    Ye Feng smiled, "For a creature as insignificant as you, I hardly need to lie!"


    Shen Minghua fell silent for a long moment before finally biting the bullet and saying, "Fine, I¡¯ll tell you. But I hope you¡¯ll do as you say!"


    Ye Feng remained silent, waiting for him to continue.


    "It¡¯s the Yin Family from Southern River Region Jiangnan Province. A junior from the Yin Family, it was he who gave me the Poisonous Gu!" Shen Minghua suddenly raised his voice.


    "The Yin Family from Southern River Region Jiangnan Province?" Ye Feng raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes, my rapid rise to the position of General Manager in the Hongtian Group andter my ascension was also thanks to the Yin Family pulling strings in the shadows. This time, with the administering of the Poisonous Gu and consolidating the board of directors, it was the Yin Family manipting everything behind the scenes. I was just a pawn for the Yin Family!"


    Having said this, Shen Minghua gnashed his teeth, "The Yin Family, they promised to back me up, but now that everything hase to light, they abandoned me. Since the Yin Family is heartless, don¡¯t me me for being unrighteous!"


    He added, "Right, three years ago, I heard that drunk Yin Family junior say something. Although the Yin Family isn¡¯t well-known in Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, they have an extremely terrifying force behind them, reportedly a branch of the Southern Territory Gu&Poison Sect."


    "The Southern Territory Gu&Poison Sect, it all makes sense now!" Upon hearing this, Ye Feng finally unraveled the mystery.

 Chapter 50 The Martial King, A Peerless Master!

    ```


    The Gu&Poison Sect of the Southern Border is extremely secretive. Aside from their Gu and Poison techniques, they also possess evil arts such as bewitchment. Moreover, the Gu&Poison Sect has always been elusive, and even the soldiers of the Southern Territory would find it no easy task to eradicate it.


    That''s because the Southern Border boasts the Hundred Thousand Mountains, which are dense and primitive forests where one can easily get lost without knowledge of the terrain, let alone carrying out an extermination.


    However, as the Northern Border King, Ye Feng knew that although the Gu&Poison Sect''s base camp was hidden within the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Territory, they had proxies operating outside.


    After all, to cultivate Gu and Poison, or to maintain a family''s survival, a vast amount of money is needed.


    And this is why the Yin Family of Jiangnan Province in the Southern River Region has the Gu&Poison Sect behind them.


    The Gu&Poison Sect, through controlling the Yin Family of Jiangnan, and the Yin Family, by various means, plundered the industries of the cities in the Jiangnan Province, aiming to seize wealth for the Gu&Poison Sect. It must be said that this channel is very secretive, only Ye Feng would have noticed.


    "It seems that once the matter in Jiangdu is settled, it''s time to take a trip to the Provincial City of Jiangnan Province. The Jiang Family and Yin Family of Jiangnan, these scum must be eradicated!"


    Ye Feng left the Supervision Bureau with a gaze as cold and sharp as a knife, his mind already made up.


    Seventeen pushed the wheelchair silently from behind throughout, while Yan Xu dared not ask any more questions.


    The two then returned to the Hong Family; the night was already deep, and there were very few pedestrians on both sides of the streets.


    All of a sudden, Ye Feng felt an oppressive sensation that made him extremely ufortable.


    Almost in an instant, Ye Feng realized it.


    "We''re being followed!" He didn''t turn around, nor did he look through the rearview mirror. This was the spirit sense born from years of battling on the fields.


    Seventeen looked through the rearview mirror and didn''t spot any noticeable people or vehicles, and couldn''t help saying, "Is that really possible?"


    Ye Feng immediately ordered, "Take a detour, don''t go back to the Hong Family for now, circle around the foothills outside the city!"


    This is what''s called luring the snake out of its hole. If someone was indeed following them, the mountain outskirts would undoubtedly be the best ce to strike. Rather than having the pursuers skulk in the shadows, it''s better to draw them out and capture them all in one fell swoop.


    This is the audacity of the highly skilled, and of course, the bearing of a regal ruler!


    Seventeen didn''t say anything, simply turned the steering wheel, and headed towards the western foothills.


    The car sped away, quickly leaving the city area and entering the winding mountain paths.


    "Stop in front of the mountain clearing!" Ye Fengmanded.


    The car screeched to a halt, kicking up clouds of dust from the ground.


    With Seventeen''s assistance, Ye Feng got out of the car, the mountain wind bringing a chill hard to describe.


    In the killing silence of the night, Ye Feng faced the pitch-ck woods ahead and shouted sternly, "You''ve followed us all this way, and here is your best chance to strike. Why note out?"


    Suddenly, noises came from the dark woods, and then three figures, like nimble monkeys, swept out from within.


    "Goodd, you''re indeed no ordinary man. You actually detected us in advance!"


    "Not only did you discover us, but you even dared toe here. I don''t know whether that''s confidence or ignorance!"


    The three men in ck stood firm on the ground as swiftly as arrows, clearly skilled and agile.


    "Two Great Grandmasters and one Half-Step Master¡ªit''s indeed quite a force. I just wonder who sent you?" Ye Feng sat in his wheelchair, his expression unchanged.


    Initially, Ye Feng suspected. It could be because his identity had been exposed, or perhaps the Mountain Eagle assassin organization had tracked him down, resulting in the Imperial Capital Nobility sending top-level assassins along with Mountain Eagle.


    However, after reconsidering, Ye Feng rejected this idea because if it were truly Mountain Eagle or the Imperial Capital Nobility, they would undoubtedly not choose to trail covertly but to strike directly with fierce methods.


    ```


    Besides, it could also be people from the Gu&Poison Sect, considering that only yesterday their ns were foiled; another possibility is members of the Jiang Family.


    A man in ck sneered, "Since you''ve chosen such a deserted ce, on ount of your impending death, there is no harm in telling you!"


    With these words, the three men in ck tore off the cloth covering their faces, revealing three old men, one of whom bore a striking resemnce to Jiang Youhe.


    "Members of the Jiang Family?" Ye Feng wasn''t particrly surprised.


    "You''ve got some insight, kid. First you injured our Jiang Family''s Jiang Tianlong, then you killed Jiang Biehe, and went on to cripple Jiang Youhe. This debt can only be repaid with your blood!"


    "No need for nonsense, just take this pup''s head straight to Youhe''s grave to pay respects!"


    "Kill!"


    The three figures, elders of the Jiang Family level, rapidly spread out and pounced toward their target.


    Seventeen needed no instruction and sprang out like a fierce tiger.


    However, even as a Great Grandmaster, facing the fierce joint attack of three Jiang Family Grandmasters, Seventeen found himself overwhelmed and gradually began to lose ground.


    "This guy can''t hold on any longer. You two distract him, and I''ll free up my hands to take down this waste surnamed Ye. Otherwise, if we dy too long, we''ll attract attention!"


    After one of the Jiang Family elders finished speaking, he withdrew from the battle and lunged toward Ye Feng.


    "My lord..." Seventeen cried out in rm, wanting to break away to intercept, but was repelled by the opponent''s palm.


    Throughout this time, Ye Feng sat bolt upright in his wheelchair, his expression unchanged, his eyes watching the battle unfold with hardly any sign of distress.


    He didn''t even spare a nce at the Jiang Family elder who was about to pounce on him.


    At this moment, the Jiang Family elder had raised his hand high, ready to bring down a heavy blow.


    Yet, just then, Ye Feng opened his mouth and a Qi Arrow shot out with a whoosh, piercing through the opponent''s throat on the spot.


    The Jiang Family elder''s body fell, his eyes wide with shock, unable to believe what he had just witnessed even in death.


    "What? What''s going on? Old Jiang, just what happened?" The other two Jiang Family elders were greatly shocked.


    "Qi Force from... from..." The Jiang Family elder didn''t finish speaking before he breathed hisst.


    The remaining two elders were not fools; though they could not understand the specifics of what had happened, they knew they had stumbled upon a tough opponent tonight.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "We''re in trouble, there''s a mysterious expert, a mysterious expert who can project Qi Force from the body, we must retreat quickly!" The two Jiang Family elders spoke before attempting to flee.


    "I went to the trouble of choosing such a fine spot for you three brothers, and now that you''re here, you think you can just leave?"


    Ye Feng let out a coldugh, and then spat out two breaths in session. Like arrows, the breaths whistled through the air and pierced through the hearts of the two Jiang Family elders.


    "This... this level of Qi Force... a Martial King?" The two men uttered before copsing to the ground.


    "A Martial King? Unexpectedly, you even know of the existence of a Martial King?"


    Ye Feng chuckled coldly, but soon shook his head, sighing, "s, it''s just a bit short of the Realm of the Martial King, otherwise, I could immediately return and take revenge upon the Imperial Capital!"


    Seventeen stood silently, his face still expressionless, but a look of surprise appeared in the depths of his eyes.


    Obviously, he was taken aback to discover that his master was not a cripple, not only was he not useless, but also a legendary peerless expert on the verge of stepping into the Realm of the Martial King!

 Chapter 51 Am I not concerned about face?

    ```


    Having returned to the Hong Family from the suburban hills, it was already veryte, yet Hong Qingyan still hadn''t gone to sleep.


    This slender girl was leaning against the door, incessantly looking left and right, clearly waiting for Ye Feng, worried that something might have happened to him.


    Seeing this, Ye Feng''s heart, originally as hard as steel, involuntarily softened.


    "It''s sote, why haven''t you gone to sleep?" Ye Feng got out of the car, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand.


    "How could I sleep when you hadn''te back sote!" Hong Qingyan blurted out, and immediately realizing her slip, she lowered her head, her cheeks reddening. Fortunately, it was night, and no one noticed her embarrassment.


    "How is the old man?" Ye Feng asked.


    "Grandpa woke up a while ago and asked about you, but he''s asleep now!" Hong Qingyan answered.


    Ye Feng nodded and couldn''t help but smilingly say, "What are you standing there for, not pushing me to the Inner Courtyard to rest?"


    Hong Qingyan then came to her senses, but just as the two of them were about to head back to the Inner Courtyard, bright lights suddenly shone in from outside the Hong Family''s main gate.


    The re of the car lights and the shiny metallic body of the car indicated it was a limited edition luxury vehicle.


    "Who would be visiting sote?" Hong Qingyan wondered.


    At that moment, Long Shaowu, Long Shaogong, and members of the Dragon Sound Pavilion stepped out of the car and swaggered in.


    The two security guards at the gate, out of habit, went to stop them. After all, the Hong Family was still one of Jiangdu''s business magnates, and in the middle of the night, not just anyone could barge in.


    "Are you blind, you dogs! Do you know who we three are, daring to stop us?" Long Shaogong immediately shouted angrily and kicked out, sending one of the security guards flying.


    As for the other guards, who would dare to step forward? Ye Feng saw this and frowned, but said nothing.


    Themotion woke up Hong Yuting and Hong Wei, who charged out fuming with anger.


    "Who is so tired of living as to dare break into the Hong Family''s gate and injure our security guards? Seeking death?" Hong Wei''s scolding could be heard before he even arrived.


    Hong Yuting also huffed, "Really now, the Hong Family has a troublemaking, crippled son-inw, and now it seems anyone dares to barge in?"


    This woman couldn''t stop mentioning the crippled son-inw, clearly looking for an excuse to have a go at Ye Feng or perhaps it was her inherent sense of superiority kicking in.


    Long Shaogong sneered, "It was ''Little Master Long'' here who broke into your Hong Family''s gate. What about it, what do you think you can do to me, Little Master Long?"


    "A small Hong Family dares to put on airs in front of our Long Family? Do you really think your Hong Family is the top-tier magnate in Jiangdu?" Dragon Sound Pavilion said with a look of disdain.


    By then, Hong Wei and Hong Yuting finally got a clear view of their visitors, and their faces instantly soured, looking as if hit by frost.


    "It turns out to be the two young masters and the daughter of the Long Family, it really is a case of ''a flood that has washed over the Dragon King Temple.'' May I know why the three of you honor the Hong Family with yourte-night visit?"


    Hong Wei instantly switched to a different face, everyone being prominent figures in Jiangdu, and although the name of Hong Family''s eldest son was quite prominent,pared to these from the Long Family, he was undoubtedly much lower in status.


    Hong Yuting also smiled broadly and said, "It turns out to be the two young masters of the Long Family, why didn''t you announce your visit in advance so we could have made preparations to receive you three? Please,e in quickly."


    ```


    As she said these words, Hong Yuting did not forget to frequently lift her eyebrows and send covert nces towards the two young masters of the Long Family. It just so happened that she had rushed out in a hurry, so she was wearing rather little, and now, slightly bending over, she was almost pushing her chest out in front of the two Long Family heirs.


    Dragon Sound Pavilion red at her and coldly snorted, "Hong Yuting, put away that foxy whorish demeanor of yours. You think you can charm my two brothers? Aspiring to marry into our Long Family and be a phoenix perched on high, have you not seen what you really are?"


    Hong Yuting immediately became extremely irritated, yet dared not retort, because whether in terms of family background or beauty, she could notpare to Dragon Sound Pavilion.


    Though in the past she was hailed as the number one beauty of Jiangdu, that was only within her small circle. Once she encountered a higher circle, Hong Yuting''s nature of bullying the weak and fearing the strong immediately sumbed.


    However, Hong Qingyan wasn''t intimidated at all and shouted loudly, "You came to our Hong Family in the dead of night. What is the meaning of this?"


    Long Shaowu coldly said, "Naturally, it''s for your Hong Family''s crippled son-inw!"


    As he spoke, he turned his head, waiting for Ye Feng, who was sitting in the wheelchair, and said word by word, "Our arrival here is to inform you, my grandfather has left seclusion!"


    Ye Feng smiled and replied, "Good, I got it. Since Old Long hase out of seclusion, then let him roll over and see me tomorrow morning!"


    "What did you say, tell my grandfather toe see you? You do think quite highly of yourself!"


    Long Shaowu immediately became furious and coldly shouted, "Who do you think you are? You''re nothing more than the Hong Family''s son-inw. Even if you have a Master of Inner Force as a follower, you think you''re something special?"


    "Ignorant and arrogant, no wonder the whole of Jiangdu is saying that you are the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family. Now it seems you''re not only arrogant but recklessly so!"


    Dragon Sound Pavilion rolled her eyes and disdainfully snorted, "Why bother talking more to someone so ignorant and arrogant? Let''s just handle the task my grandfather assigned us and leave. This wheelchair-bound waste is so revolting that even one nce from me is too much."


    Ye Feng did not get angry; he was not to the point of being enraged by such debauched youth.


    Long Shaowu directly took out a gold-embossed card from his bosom and snorted, "My grandfather hase out of seclusion, aware of the chaos you''ve caused in Jiangdu recently. Especially today, at the martial arts school, you did not only kill an Elder of the Jiang Family but even injured and crippled many people. Outraged, my grandfather sent me to deliver this Battle Challenge Letter to you!"


    Having said that, he threw the gold-embossed Battle Challenge Letter towards him.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "A battle challenge?" Ye Feng casually caught it and couldn''t help butugh, "Old Long really thinks highly of himself; he dares to issue me a battle challenge at his nk level?"


    Dragon Sound Pavilion rolled her eyes again and coldly said, "We''ve delivered the message. Tomorrow morning at nine o''clock, the location will still be the martial arts school of today. You act so brash and arrogant. Don''t chicken out!"


    "Let''s go!" Long Shaogong waved his hand grandly, ready to climb into the car.


    "Stop right there!" Ye Feng suddenly spoke up.


    The three members of the Long Family had no choice but to stop, asking coldly, "What now, do you have more to say?"


    Ye Feng looked at the security guard who had been kicked to the ground and still couldn''t stand up, and coldly said, "Now that I am the son-inw of the Hong Family, I am at least half a member of the Hong Family. You injured a Hong Family security guard for no reason and think you can just walk away? Do you think I have no face?"


    The three Long siblings couldn''t help but scoff continuously. Long Shaogong snorted, "So what, you dare toy your hands on us?"


    Ye Feng directly issued an order, "Just now, was it your left foot that kicked the security guard? Seventeen, break his left foot!"


    Seventeen''s figure instantly sprang into action, pouncing out like a fierce tiger.

 Chapter 52 The Challenge of the Leader of the Martial Alliance

    Long Shaogong had no ability to resist, and his left leg was directly shattered by Seventeen''s punch.


    Long Shaowu and the other of Dragon Sound Pavilion looked on, not daring to intervene to help; they were all frightened out of their wits.


    "Ah¡­"


    Long Shaogong screamed miserably, gritting his teeth and roaring, "You... you actually broke my leg, you dare!"


    Only after Seventeen retreated behind Ye Feng did Long Shaowu dare to rush over, helping Long Shaogong up and pulling him back to the car.


    "Ye, we are both direct lineage scions of the Long Family, and you dare to cripple my brother''s left leg; my grandfather will definitely not let you go, just you wait!"


    "A waste from the Hong Family, relying on a powerful bodyguard, dares to act so recklessly? You really think no one in Jiangdu can handle you, let''s go, and immediately go back and tell Grandfather. Tomorrow at the martial hall, even if you, young man, don''te, you''re definitely on a path to death!"


    After dropping these words, the individual from Dragon Sound Pavilion directly got into the car, and then the driver elerated, the car immediately roaring away.


    Throughout this whole time, Ye Feng was just sitting in the wheelchair, his expression utterly unmoved, considering them nothing more than a few pompous noblemen''s sons, unworthy of his attention.


    "A battle challenge letter, just a leader of the city''s Martial Alliance dares to issue me a challenge? Tomorrow, I really want to see what abilities you actually possess!"


    Ye Feng uttered a coldugh and then asked Hong Qingyan to push his wheelchair as he headed back to the Inner Courtyard.


    Hong Wei looked at his departing figure, his eyes spinning with some admiration, "Sister, whether we admit it or not, our son-inw from the Hong Family seems quite domineering. The way he spoke earlier about breaking Long Shaogong''s damned leg was really too cool and satisfying!"


    Hong Yuting pursed her lips, rolled her eyes, and said, "Quite domineering? Are your ears stuffed with dragons? Didn''t you hear just now? That old man from the Long Family, the leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance, has already issued a battle challenge to that useless son-inw!"


    "Tomorrow, a year from now, will probably be the death anniversary of that Ye fellow. Domineering? I think ignorant arrogance is more like it!"


    Hong Yuting finished speaking with disdain, crossed her arms, and walked back to her own bedroom.


    Hong Wei shook his head and sighed, "It seems like tomorrow, Jiangdu is going to be tossed into another storm. But it''s uncertain who will emerge victorious. If only¡­"


    Originally, he felt that their son-inw might be able to win. If he did, then the Hong Family might indeed ride the tide and rise. However, upon further thought, he felt it was unlikely. After all, the adversary was the Leader of the Martial Alliance!


    Without a word overnight, as the first rays of dawn shone through the window the next morning, Ye Feng was already sitting up in bed, cing his hands on his thighs, forming a strange and mysterious seal technique.


    He slowly closed his eyes and entered a regr pattern of breaths. Soon, a white mistyyer began to emanate around his body. Then, an incredible phenomenon urred¡ªfive different colors appeared above his head.


    "Five Qi Returning to Origin!" This was a phenomenon that appeared after a Grandmaster of Inner Force entered the Intermediate Realm.


    Once an External Strength Warrior practiced to a certain level, Qi Force,monly referred to as Inner Strength, would be generated within the body. After cultivating Inner Strength to a certain extent, "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top" would manifest.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The so-called "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top" is when three different colors of Qi appear above a martial artist''s head during their practice. This is already a higher-level state for a Grandmaster. Currently, Seventeen was at this stage.


    Beyond "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top" is the "Five Qi Returning to Origin," which is the phenomenon that just appeared above Ye Feng''s head.


    And beyond Five Qi Returning to Origin is the "Nine Return to One."


    Suddenly, as Ye Feng continuously performed his breathing technique, the five-colored Qi above his head began to swirl and turned intoplex, resplendent hues. Then, all the colors of the Qi vanished, bing a single color.


    A silver-white Qi now hovered above him; at this moment, there was only one color above his head!


    "The Realm of Nine Return to One, I''ve finally recovered to my peak state before the injury!"


    At this time, Ye Feng slowly opened his eyes, revealing a faint smile on his usually stoic face for the first time in a long while. Being restored to his peak state meant that he could hold his own unless he faced a high-level assassination attempt.


    Of course, having been caught off guard once before, it would not be so easy for enemies to ambush and attack him this time.


    "In the Realm of Nine Return to One, I had already cultivated to my peak, yet I simply couldn''t Open Aperture. Once I seed in Opening Aperture, I will step into the legendary Realm of the Martial King!"


    "The Martial King, revered by thousands, stands second only to one. This time, I must achieve the Martial King status and return to the imperial capital in the true guise of a king!"


    Ye Feng slowly clenched his fists, and just then, the door to the room was opened. Hong Qingyan walked in carrying a copper basin.


    "Big Brother Ye, you''re awake. Come, wash your face first. I have already prepared the lean meat and mustard soup porridge; it will be ready to serve shortly."


    Hong Qingyan came over and began to help Ye Feng wash his face. She had been taking meticulous care of him this whole time.


    Ye Feng nodded and asked, "How is the old master doing now?"


    "He''s much more stable now. Grandfather woke up just a while ago and had some in porridge. However, he''s stillcking in essence, Qi, and spirit, and has gone back to sleep," answered Hong Qingyan.


    "He''s been poisoned by a Gu, leading to severe vitality damage. It''s only because he has a strong foundation that he''s been able to hold on. During this time, it''s inappropriate to consume too many tonics. Drinking more glucose to replenish his strength is advisable. In half a month, once he has recovered some, he can start taking bird''s nest and other such nourishments," Ye Feng said.


    "I''ve got it, Big Brother Ye. The doctor from the Divine Doctor Sect also gave the same instructions this morning."


    Ye Feng nodded, he didn''t add anything more.


    Hong Qingyan helped Ye Feng into his wheelchair, looking at hispletely immobile legs, she eventually couldn''t help asking, "Big Brother Ye, your legs... is there really no way to heal them?"


    Ye Feng was taken aback for a moment but then smiled and said, "My legs are fine, don''t worry about them."


    "How can you say it''s fine when it''s like this?" said Hong Qingyan.


    Ye Feng didn''t want to dwell on this topic, so he changed the subject and asked, "If my legs can''t be healed for the rest of my life, would you despise me? Would you still serve me as you have before?"


    Hong Qingyan didn''t avoid his gaze and replied, "What are you saying, Big Brother Ye? You never despised my background, so how could I ever despise you? Besides, I''m also disabled, and since grandpa has betrothed me to you, I naturally will take care of you for life."


    A wave of emotion stirred unexpectedly in Ye Feng''s heart. Adversity reveals true feelings, as the saying goes. Perhaps that''s exactly what this meant. In his past life, as a once great king, he enjoyed immeasurable glory, and there were far too many women ttering and fawning over him every day.


    But Ye Feng knew that those women from noble ns and powerful families admired not the man he was, but the title of the Northern Border King. What they really coveted was the supreme vanity and power the Northern Border King title could bring.


    "Let''s go have breakfast together. After that, we''ll set off for the Jiangdu martial arts gym to meet this so-called Great Grandmaster, the Leader of the Martial Alliance of Jiangdu!" Ye Feng said, looking at the frail woman with a long-lost gentle smile on his face.

 Chapter 53 Youre Not Qualified to Talk to Me

    The Jiangdu martial arts hall was much busier today than yesterday because the Long Family had specially publicized the event, announcing to the public that the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance would be sparring with Ye Feng, the Hong Family''s son-inw, today.


    Overnight, nearly all the elite families in Jiangdu hade to know of this and had also been invited. So early in the morning, to secure a good spot, whether it was the Fu Family, the Lei Family, or the Long Family, as well as the Jiang Family, the Chu Family, and other powerful families of Jiangdu, had all arrived early.


    The martial arts hall that could amodate thousands of people was now packed with a dense crowd, which could be said to be the cream of the crop of Jiangdu.


    Ye Feng had yet to appear because he probably did not like to arrive early, or maybe it''s because important figures always prefer to make a grand entrance.


    At the moment, however, the whole venue was already buzzing with conversation like the tide.


    "This son-inw from the Hong Family, I heard he''s a cripple in a wheelchair? And he dares to contest the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance, is he insane?"


    "I heard this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family was originally a foster son of the Fu Family and has a Great Grandmaster by his side. He''s obviously not just another person, he''s over the top, so arrogant that there are no bounds. Overnight, the reputation of this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family has reverberated through the entire Jiangdu!"


    "That''s right, I also heard thatst night when several young masters of the Hong Family went to deliver a Battle Challenge Letter, they were beaten up by this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, breaking their legs. Is there really such a thing?"


    "It''s true, because of this the Long Family was furious, proiming that today they must make this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family crawl out of the martial arts hall!"


    The people from the Long Family were right in front at the arena; Young Master Long Shaogong, despite his legs being wrapped in bandages, insisted oning in a wheelchair because today he wanted to see with his own eyes the scene of his grandfather defeating and crippling the hands of this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family.


    "Has this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family not arrived yet?" gritted Young Master Long Shaogong with clenched teeth.


    "He hasn''t arrived yet. Could it be that this waste of a son-inw doesn''t dare toe today?" Young Master Long Shaowu snorted coldly.


    At this time, a middle-aged man from the Long Family said with a smile, "Don''t worry. Once a Battle Challenge Letter is issued by the Martial Alliance, even if hecks the courage topete, he absolutely cannot be absent. Otherwise, he will be hunted down by the National Martial Alliance. It''s clearly stated on the letter, so he wouldn''t dare not toe!"


    Dragon Sound Pavilion turned to ask, "Right, where is Grandpa, is he ready? I heard that this time Grandpa''s secluded cultivation has led him to a higher level?"


    "Indeed!"


    The middle-aged man from the Long Family huffed, a triumphant expression emerging on his face as he said, "Five Qi Returning to Origin, Father has reached the legendary state of Five Qi Returning to Origin. At his level, even the Long Family from the Jiangnan Province can now sit on an equal footing with him."


    Young Master Long Shaowu was overjoyed and said, "Father, are you saying that from now on, when we meet people from the Jiang Family, our Long Family won''t need to be subservient anymore?"


    "Of course. Since Father has broken through to that level, he has gained full mastery. In the future, the Jiang Family''s influence will no longer be able to interfere in our Jiangdu. In other words, today will be the day when our Long Family rises to dominate Jiangdu!"


    "After today, Jiangdu will no longer be under the Three Great Ancient Families, but under the sole authority of our Long Family!"


    "That''s fantastic, our Long Family, after lying low for decades, will finally be able to break free and ascend to the heavens, soaring through the Nine Heavens!"


    Young Master Long Shaowu, Young Master Long Shaogong, Dragon Sound Pavilion, and others all had exhrating joy on their faces.


    As for the Chu Family, the head of the Chu Family, Chu Xionghe, who was only in his forties but looked much older, didn''t bring many people. Chu Xionghe only had a twelve or thirteen-year-old child by his side.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Uncle, is this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family the one who killed Grandpa Chu?" the young child from the Chu Family asked.


    "Exactly, it is him!" Chu Xionghe replied.


    "Why did you still ask me to take him as a master?" the child asked.


    "Because your Grandpa Chu made a mistake; we can''t me others for being ruthless. Having you be his disciple is that person''s idea?"


    "So it was the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family''s idea?"


    "Indeed. Let''s just wait and see today. If he wins, then you will join his ranks, diligently practice martial arts, and he said you have one chance to challenge him for revenge!"


    The Chu Family''s child, tilting his head high, asked, "If he agreed to take me under his wing and promised to teach me martial arts, why does he still let me seek revenge against him? Isn''t that contradictory?"


    After hearing this, Chu Xionghe shook his head and bitterly smiled, "Even I don''t know. Such a person probably never ys by the rules."


    The Chu Family child quickly followed with another question, "Uncle Chu, do you think he can win today?"


    Chu Xionghe nced toward the Long Family and muttered with a sigh, "Hard to say, after all, it''s the Long Family, after all, he is the Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu, touted as a Great Grandmaster!"


    Just at that moment, the previously noisy martial arts gymnasium suddenly quieted down, everyone turned their heads toward the entrance.


    Then they saw a young girl, limping, pushing a wheelchair slowly into the room. A young man sat in the wheelchair, looking straight ahead with a calm gaze.


    Following behind the wheelchair was a young man in histe twenties, dressed in ck. He was Seventeen!


    "It''s him, the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, Ye Feng, he hase, he really dide!" someone in the crowd suddenly eximed in a low, excited voice.


    "Hard to believe, this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family actually dared to show up. Does he not fear death?" a member of the Lei Family sneered.


    Long Shaowu walked straight up to Ye Feng and sneered word by word, "Yesterday, you broke my younger brother''s leg. My grandfather said today he will cripple your hands as punishment."


    "Furthermore, this bodyguard and follower behind you killed a Lei Family scion yesterday and maimed people from the Jiang Family; such an offense must be punished severely, with death without mercy!"


    "Death without mercy?" Ye Fengughed and shook his head with a sigh, "In this world, no one born yet dares to tell me ''death without mercy''!"


    At this point, Ye Feng''s gaze intensified as he said, "You''re not qualified to talk to me. Where is your grandfather, the Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu, now? Tell him to roll out and see me!"


    "You really have quite the audacity!"


    Just then, suddenly from behind the arena came a spirited roar of anger, and following that, a white-bearded, sixty-something-year-old elder slowly stepped onto the arena. He was Long Zaitian, the family head of the Long Family and the current Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu.


    Long Zaitian stood on the arena, gazing at Ye Feng with each word sneered, "You really are extremely arrogant. While the Leader of the Martial Alliance was in secluded cultivation, you caused havoc andmitted crimes in the Martial Arts World. Now that I am out of secluded cultivation, there''s no way I can let you continue your rampages!"


    "To clean up this cancer that is you and return a clear Heaven and Earth to the Martial Dao world of Jiangdu, as the Leader of the Martial Alliance, I bear an inescapable responsibility. Last night, I have issued a Battle Challenge Letter; do you dare to ept the fight?"


    Long Zaitian, standing tall on the arena, his voice like rolling thunder, appeared righteous and indignant.


    Ye Feng, sitting in the wheelchair, looked at him from afar and sneered, "You, you''re not qualified to challenge me. Beat my subordinate first!"


    "As the Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu, you allowed the Jiang Family from the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province to run rampant in Jiangdu. You should be punished. Seventeen, go up there and break this old man''s eighteen ribs!"

 Chapter 54 His Identity Reaches the Sky Horizon

    Seventeen didn''t say another word and directly leaped onto the fighting tform.


    "Qingyan, push me closer; I actually want to see what sort of skills this so-called Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance really has!"


    Ye Feng waved his hand; in fact, he was a bit worried about Seventeen, so he wanted to be closer, just in case he needed to intervene should an ident ur.


    After all, the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance was no ordinary person.


    Long Zaitianughed heartily and coldly sneered, "To brag about breaking seventeen of my ribs is simply insanity taken to its limits. Since that''s the case, I will first eliminate your subordinate bodyguard, and then I''lle after you to settle the ount!"


    As he spoke these words, Old Long''s gaze casually swept toward Ye Feng, but it was just a nce, and he stood dumbfounded on the spot as if struck by lightning.


    He simply couldn''t believe his eyes and thought he had seen incorrectly, so he hurriedly rubbed his eyes with his hands and took another careful look.


    "My heavens!"


    After uttering these words, Long Zaitian, not caring about Seventeen, who had already made his move, immediately jumped down from the fighting tform.


    Everyone watching was dumbfounded,pletely unclear about what the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance was doing.


    However, in the next moment, something even more unexpected happened. Long Zaitian quickly took three steps and turned them into two, rushing over to Ye Feng, and then he bowed deeply with his hands sped in front of him in a gesture of respect.


    "I was blind and failed to recognize Mr. Ye. Please, Mr. Ye, forgive me!"


    Long Zaitian bowed deeply, his attitude very respectful and his words even carried a thick sense of awe.


    At this moment, not just Ye Feng, but everyone around them was stunned, their eyes wide open, and their faces showed shock.


    "What¡­what on earth is going on?" someone in the crowd asked.


    At first, Long Shaowu thought he had seen wrongly and vigorously rubbed his eyes. Realizing that the man was really his grandfather, he hurriedly rushed over, calling out loudly, "Grandfather, what''s gotten into you? Are you confused? How can you be giving respect to this cripple?"


    "This wheelchair-bound cripple was the one who broke my second brother''s legsst night. Grandfather, please make your move. Just cripple his hands and make him crawl out like a dog!"


    p!


    Without a word, Long Zaitian gave a sharp p across the face, striking Long Shaowu so hard he was left bewildered.


    "Grandfather¡­ what are you doing? Have you gone mad? Why are you hitting me for no reason?" Long Shaowu yelled, covering his face which had swollen up like a pig''s head.


    Dragon Sound Pavilion too shouted, "Grandfather, what are you doing? You haven''t made a mistake, have you? You''re hitting your own grandson!"


    "I''m striking you two dog things who don''t recognize what you''re seeing!"


    Long Zaitian roared in anger, clearly still furious; he delivered another p that nearly knocked Dragon Sound Pavilion to the ground.


    Silence!


    Suddenly, the whole scene turned dead silent; everyone couldn''t believe what they had just witnessed. It was all too dramatic; could it be that Old Long had taken the wrong medicine?


    Long Zaitian quickly turned around, and again bowed deeply to Ye Feng, sping his hands and saying, "My grandchildren are ignorant and foolish, and have offended Mr. Ye. I have already disciplined them. I hope Mr. Ye will be magnanimous."


    Ye Feng looked at Long Zaitian up and down, certain that he did not recognize the person before him, and thus couldn''t help but ask, "Do we know each other?"


    Long Zaitian replied with a bitter smile, "Mr. Ye naturally wouldn''t recognize someone as insignificant as myself, but I indeed recognize Mr. Ye."


    "Oh?" Ye Feng was somewhat surprised.


    Long Zaitian said, "Three years ago, I had the fortune to attend the General Assembly of the Martial Alliance of the Imperial Capital, which took ce at the main hall of the Martial Alliance there. At that time, Mr. Ye was also present. I was in the very back corner, and although Mr. Ye only made a brief appearance before leaving the scene..."


    "But I have firmly etched Mr. Ye''s grace into my memory; I admire your unparalleled elegance. Mr. Ye, with your bearing that could swallow mountains and rivers and a magnanimous spirit, I hope you''ll not take offense at the likes of us juniors."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Having said this, Long Zaitian bowed deeply once more, his demeanor not just respectful; it even carried undertones of subservience.


    Everyone present, seeing this, was filled with an indescribable shock, and they turned their heads to look at Ye Feng as if trying to see through him.


    At this moment, everyone had only one thought: Who exactly is this young man sitting in the wheelchair, that even the Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu shows such respect and even awe towards him?


    After hearing this, Ye Feng nodded slightly and said, "I see."


    Now standing before Ye Feng, Long Zaitian no longer had that overpowering aura from before and instead appeared to be rather uneasy.


    Three years ago, the General Assembly of the Martial Alliance was held in the Imperial Capital; leaders of the Martial Alliances from provinces nationwide would attend. Although Long Zaitian held a very high status in Jiangdu, at the General Assembly of the Martial Alliance, he was but a minor figure, even relegated to a corner.


    At that time, Ye Feng did not sit at the main table of the General Assembly of the Martial Alliance. He had merely shown his face briefly before quickly departing.


    But upon his entrance, the five people on the Martial Alliance''s leadership stage, that is, the five most powerful people in the General Martial Alliance, all stood up to greet Ye Feng with utmost respect and humility, filled with reverence.


    Upon witnessing such a scene, even a fool could discern this young man''s extraordinary status. Of course, Long Zaitian was no fool. Even if he did not know the specific details of this young man''s identity...


    Nevertheless, judging from the attitude of the highest echelons of the Martial Alliance, this young man''s status was obviously far above the top figures in control!


    Long Zaitian could hardly believe that such a significant figure, even one as high as the Sky Horizon, would actuallye to Jiangdu and be so low-key.


    Thinking of this, Long Zaitian couldn''t help but feel a sense of fear and relief. He was thankful for his earlier recollections, remembering that scene from the Martial Alliance three years ago; otherwise, his Long Family might well have met with disaster.


    At first, the members of the Long Family were resentful and even wanted to reprimand Ye Feng openly, but now they were silent as cicadas in winter, not even daring to breathe loudly.


    Ye Feng said nothing but continued to look at Long Zaitian, sizing him up from head to toe, and eventually asked, "So, you know who I am?"


    Long Zaitian replied with a wry smile, "Shamefully, I inquired afterward, and I even questioned the higher-ups of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province Martial Alliance, but they all knew nothing. Perhaps, it''s because our ne is too lowly and unworthy."


    Ye Feng nodded and said, "Well, knowing too much about my identity would not be good for you!"


    "Yes!" Long Zaitian bowed once more, then asked, "May I inquire, Mr. Ye, about today''s matters..."


    Ye Feng raised an eyebrow, pondering for a while before responding, "The juniors of the Long Family... I don''t bother myself with them. However, as the Leader of the Martial Alliance in Jiangdu, you originally had the responsibility to maintain the peace of the Martial Dao world here, yet you allowed the Lei Family to act recklessly due to fear of the Jiang Family''s power!"


    Long Zaitian said, "I recognize my mistake; I also deeply understand that I''m unworthy to be the Leader of the Alliance. I will apply today to resign my position."


    "No need," Ye Feng waved his hand, "I''ll give you one chance to restore order in the Martial Dao world of Jiangdu, to ensure justice and fairness. Should there be another offense in the future, I will be merciless!"


    "Yes, thank you, Mr. Ye, for your clemency!" Long Zaitian bowed deeply once again, his demeanor both respectful and sincere.

 Chapter 55 Kneel Down and Beg for Mercy Calling Daddy

    The martial artspetition had been the talk of the town for a while, but its end turned out to be dramatic beyond anyone''s imagination, concluding in an unexpected way.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ye Feng left quickly because he didn''t want to be gawked at and discussed like a monkey.


    Long Zaitian had intended to invite him for lunch as a form of apology, but upon reflection, he realized that his own ne was probably not worthy enough.


    Even though Ye Feng had departed, the sensation he caused remained for a long time, with everyone savoring the recent scene. Eventually, everyone came to the same realization, the Hong Family was on the rise.


    All the while, Long Zaitian remained rooted to the spot, staring nkly in the direction of Ye Feng''s departure.


    Long Mingbo approached and whispered, "Father, he''s already gone, gone far."


    Long Zaitian then snapped out of his daze, sighing deeply, "Gone, finally gone, just like that."


    His sigh wasden with aplex mix of emotions, relief, regret, and, of course, lingering fear.


    After a pause, Long Mingbo asked, "Father, what exactly is the identity of that man, that even you would..."


    He didn''t finish his question, for Long Zaitian''s expression had suddenly darkened, and he interrupted sharply, "Don''t ask any more. Even if I didn''t know, I wouldn''t tell you. With his level of ne, knowing too much will bring no benefit at all!"


    Lowering his head, Long Mingbo dared not ask further. He could feel that, although the man had long gone, his father was still under immense pressure.


    After some thought, Long Mingbo asked, "Father, it''s said he was once the foster son of the Fu Family. Now, how shall we deal with the Fu Family?"


    Long Zaitian pondered for a moment before replying, "That''s exactly where he showed his cleverness. He didn''t punish me directly; I fear his real intention was to use my hand to help the Fu Family!"


    "Order the Lei Family immediately to return the properties originally belonging to the Fu Family. Do it now!"


    "But Father, the Jiang Family of Southern River Region Jiangnan Province backs the Lei Family. If we do this, the Jiang Family might..."


    Before Long Mingbo could finish, Long Zaitian red at him furiously, bellowing, "Are you brainless or is your head filled with water? Compared to that man, what is the Jiang Family of Southern River Region Jiangnan? They don''t amount to even a fart."


    "Yes, Father, I understand now!" Long Mingbo''s mind seemed to be still reeling, but after thinking for a while, he asked again, "About the Lei Family, should we specifically suppress them to please him a bit?"


    "No need!"


    Long Zaitian mused, "Given his supreme ne, we don''t need to do anything deliberate. He just emphasized the need for fairness and justice. Since the people who needed to be punished have mostly been dealt with already, we don''t need to be too purposeful; otherwise, it might backfire."


    "Moreover, instruct Long Shaowu and the others tonight to apologize to the Hong Family, and their attitude better be good, or don''t me me for breaking their dog legs!"


    Having said that, Long Zaitian flung his sleeve and departed.


    Meanwhile, the Lei Family members present felt as uneasy as ants on a hot pan.


    "What should we do now? Should we go beg Long Zaitian to speak well of us?" a middle-aged member of the Lei Family said.


    "Beg Long Zaitian? Didn''t you see how he was groveling just now, like a grandson? That Fu Family''s foster son didn''t give a damn about him!"


    "Then shall we go to the Fu Family?"


    ```


    "The Fu Family? That''s an even more foolish thing. They cast out someone who turned out to be as huge as the sky horizon itself. Instead of revering him like I did, they kicked him out of the family. Do you not know that the Fu Family has already issued a decree yesterday, dering they havepletely severed ties with Ye Feng?"


    "The Fu Family cast Ye Feng out? Then what should our Lei Family do? Are we just supposed to wait for our doom? Should we go to the Jiang Family instead?"


    "I''m afraid that seeking the Jiang Family will also be useless. I heard insider newsst night that three of the Jiang Family''s elders were killed, most likely by that person as well. Right, we should go to the Hong Family. Isn''t he known as the ''Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family''? Let''s go to the Hong Family immediately, and bring along the finest gifts to plea for help!"


    In the room, if the Lei Family was the most flustered, then the Fu Family was filled with the deepest remorse.


    Fu Zuoxing stood there dumbfounded, as if he had lost his soul, while Fu Wenhua and Fu Qing were simrly overwhelmed by a mix of emotions and regret.


    "Our Fu Family has missed an opportunity to rise up for nothing. Who could have expected that this foster son of the Fu Family, whom we originally thought was nothing but a crawling creature, would actually turn out to be a flying dragon!"


    "Regretful of the past... We should never have cast him out of the Fu Family. Right, find Fu Shen and Fu Zi. They have the best rtionship with Ye Feng. Have them plead on our behalf!"


    At this moment, even though Ye Feng had long since left the martial arts hall, the ripple effects of his departure were far from subsiding. Not only the Long Family but also the Lei Family, the Fu Family, and even the Chu Family were all in motion at the first instance.


    As for Ye Feng himself, he had already returned to the Hong Family.


    The car drove into the Hong Family Courtyard, and with the aid of Hong Qingyan, Ye Feng slowly got out of the car.


    Hong Yuting walked out from the main hall, crossing her arms and sneered, "Wow, who would have thought that our ''Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family'' would actuallye back? This is truly unexpected!"


    Hong Wei also rushed out and eximed with widened eyes, "You actually came back? Didn''t you have a martial arts duel with the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance this morning? Didn''t you go? Otherwise why didn''t the Leader of the Martial Alliance beat you, the ''Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family'', to death or into cripple?"


    Zhang Manyu sauntered out with her hands on her hips and sneered repeatedly, "Beaten to death or into a cripple? He''s already crippled like this, how more could he be beaten? In my opinion, it must be that our ''Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family'' was kneeling and begging for mercy, and the magnanimous Leader of the Martial Alliance decided not to lower himself to that level in the end, right?"


    "Mom, you can''t possibly be serious. If that''s really the case, then our Hong Family''s face would be utterly lost by this so-called ''Mad Son-inw''!"


    The three of them didn''t go to the martial arts hall because they didn''t want to witness the ''Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family'' kneeling and begging for mercy, causing the Hong Family to lose all its dignity. Therefore, naturally, they were also unaware of everything that had transpired at the martial arts hall.


    As for Hong Tianming, he had wanted to go, but he was tied up with a stack of corporate board matters and couldn''t make it.


    Hong Qingyan couldn''t stand it anymore and retorted, "Saying Big Brother Ye was kneeling and begging for mercy, you didn''t go, but if you had gone, you would have been in for an eye-opener. It wasn''t Big Brother Ye who was kneeling; it was the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance. He was the one begging Big Brother Ye for mercy!"


    "The Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance begging for mercy from our Hong Family''s crippled son-inw?" Zhang Yuman and Hong Yuting widened their eyes as if they had heard the world''s biggest joke.


    "What kind of international joke is this? You crippled girl, although ''one follows the husband like a chicken or a dog'', you still can''t be spouting nonsense like that. Who is the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance, and why would he beg for mercy from a cripple."


    "If the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance were begging for mercy, then this youngdy here would kneel down to this crippled son-inw and call him daddy on the spot. But, is that even possible?" Hong Yuting sneered repeatedly.


    "You..." Hong Qingyan was furious and about to argue.


    Ye Feng held her hand and said calmly, "They''re just three buffoons. Arguing with them would only lower our intelligence."


    "Three buffoons?" Zhang Manyuughed, ready to hurl an insult.


    However, at that moment, from outside the Hong Family Courtyard, there suddenly came a series of rumbling car horns, with at least a dozen luxury vehicles arriving.


    The first to get out of the cars were people from the Long Family, followed by the Lei Family, then the Fu Family, and after that the Chu Family along with otherrge and small wealthy families.


    ```

 Chapter 56: The Powerful Families, All of You Kneel Before Me!

    The sudden turn of events had Zhang Yuman and the otherspletely stunned.


    "Why are the people from the Long Family, the Lei Family, and the Fu Familying to our Hong Family?"


    "Isn¡¯t that obvious, they must be here to settle ounts with our Hong Family¡¯s arrogant son-inw!" Hong Yuting¡¯s mouth curled up, her face full of schadenfreude.


    "We¡¯re done for, our Hong Family is doomed now. That son-inw really is a troublemaker; he haspletely offended our Hong Family now!"


    Zhang Yuman wailed repeatedly, without any hesitation, she turned and ran. Hong Yuting and Hong Wei also quickened their pace and hurried inside.


    They were undoubtedly scared. With such amotion outside and so many noble familiesing to settle scores, they had never witnessed such an imposing scene.


    But they had only taken two steps when Long Shaowu from the Long Family and those from the Dragon Sound Pavilion walked in and immediately knelt down in front of Ye Feng.


    "Mr. Ye, I hope you can be magnanimous and not hold our past offenses against us small folk!" Long Shaowu¡¯s voice was very loud.


    Zhang Yuman¡¯s stepping foot suddenly froze mid-air, her body stiff as if struck by lightning.


    "Small folk, the young master of the Long Family actually called himself small folk, and he is kneeling to this worthless son-inw?" Zhang Yuman doubted whether she was seeing things correctly.


    Hong Yuting was also wide-eyed, her face filled with disbelief.


    However, things were far from over. Following that, the Lei Family patriarch and Fu Zuoxing, the patriarch of the Fu Family, hurried over with several young members of their family. They, too, knelt down before Ye Feng.


    "Mr. Ye, please forgive us, our Lei Family was blind and failed to recognize your greatness before, offending you. Please punish us as you see fit!" The Lei Family patriarch begged for mercy.


    "Ye Feng, your uncle realizes his mistake. I have been blind, like a flood that washed away the Dragon King Temple and even drove you out of the Fu Family. All of us at the Fu Family regret deeply and have specificallye to apologize today. I hope you can consider your foster father¡¯s position and not hold it against us!"


    Fu Zuoxing¡¯s words were tearful, he even went so far as to crawl forward to lick Ye Feng¡¯s shoes.


    Ye Feng raised an eyebrow: "Aren¡¯t you disgusting?"


    Fu Zuoxing quickly responded: "Yes, yes, Mr. Ye, you are right to chastise me. Moreover, if Mr. Ye is willing, as your uncle, I will give Fu Qing to you to be your maidservant, to attend to you for life."


    Long Shaowu said: "Mr. Ye, my grandfather also said that if you are willing, we will betroth Dragon Sound Pavilion to you!"


    Dragon Sound Pavilion cast flirtatious nces: "Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Ye? It was my fault for not seeing clearly before and offending you. If you are willing to forgive me, from now on, I am yours."


    All the otherrge and small noble families also bowed and made their stance clear, the scene was undoubtedly grand and impressive.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Ye Feng sat in his wheelchair, his expression unchanged, as still as an ancient well. He, the Northern Border King, found such a scene trivial.


    Once upon a time, as the Northern Border King, he attended a banquet in the imperial capital, where various Noble n nobility came to pay their respects, and the scene was even more exaggerated than this.


    Yet Zhang Yuman and Hong Yuting, among others, were shocked, especially Hong Yuting, who had aplex and astonished look on her face.


    She could hardly believe that this worthless son-inw she had looked down upon from the bottom of her heart had such tremendous power. Not to mention other noble families, even the beloved daughter of the Long Family, Dragon Sound Pavilion, was willing to lower herself to marry him?


    For a moment, Hong Yuting felt a tumult of emotions and was tense all over. Her intuition told her that she had missed an incredibly important opportunity, an opportunity to rise to the top and be a phoenix!


    Ye Feng shook his head and said: "All rise. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t punish you. As for your realm, it¡¯s still not worthy of my personal intervention!"


    The implication was clear: they weren¡¯t qualified enough for him to personally administer punishment!


    Many of Jiangdu¡¯s elite let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.


    They understood, despite Jiangdu being arge metropolis, it was but a small pond in the eyes of the person before them. He might take an asional interest in ying in this small pond, but never for long.


    After all, for a flying dragon like him, a small pond was ultimately too small, and the water too deep!


    Hong Qingyan knew it was time for her to step forward and say a few words, seeing as Dragon Sound Pavilion was still looking at Ye Feng with direct and eager eyes.


    "Everyone, please go back. Big Brother Ye doesn¡¯t like the noise!" Hong Qingyan gently stepped forward, her action undoubtedly a disy of her rtionship with Ye Feng.


    Dragon Sound Pavilion initially wanted to say something more, but was held back by Long Shaowu, who had been extensively cautioned by his grandfather beforeing here, warning that with such an unfathomable person, it was critical not to be too deliberate, lest it have the opposite effect.


    "Then we shall not disturb Mr. Ye¡¯s rest," Long Shaowu said with a cup of the hand before leaving the Hong Family Courtyard.


    The rest of the Jiangdu¡¯s elite also left one after another, but before they did, they offered up gifts, arge portion of which were jewelry intended for Hong Qingyan.


    Ye Feng did not refuse them, so Hong Qingyan happily epted them. She didn¡¯t particrly value the jewelry, but she knew that by letting her ept the gifts, Ye Feng was acknowledging their rtionship.


    Hong Yuting¡¯s heart grew even more sour at this scene. She suddenly regretted, regretted why she had refused her grandfather¡¯s request. If she had agreed back then, to marry this wheelchair-bound guy, she would be the female lead today.


    "Qingyan, let¡¯s go back to the Inner Courtyard," Ye Feng beckoned.


    "Okay, Big Brother Ye!" Hong Qingyan handed the gifts to the servants and came over to push the wheelchair.


    The wheelchair moved slowly past Hong Yuting and the others, Ye Feng¡¯s gaze indifferent, not even bothering to give these people a nce.


    However, Zhang Yuman suddenly stepped forward and knelt down unexpectedly in front of Ye Feng.


    "Mr. Ye, oh no, our respected son-inw, we were blind and offensive before, it¡¯s really... like the great flood hitting the Dragon King Temple. Please be magnanimous!"


    At this, Zhang Yuman cried out, "Yu Ting, what are you standing there for? Come over and apologize to Mr. Ye at once!"


    But Ye Feng called out, "There¡¯s no need!"


    Zhang Yuman was overjoyed and said, "Does this mean, Mr. Ye, you have forgiven us?"


    Ye Feng smiled faintly and said, "Forgiveness isn¡¯t quite the right word, because from the beginning to the end, you were never in my sight!"


    After saying this, Ye Feng slowly moved past them, his gaze straight ahead, never giving them a second look. This wasn¡¯t contempt but indifference; such insignificant people didn¡¯t even deserve his scorn.


    Watching Ye Feng¡¯s retreating figure, Zhang Yuman stood there, dazed, feeling a tremendous humiliation. It had taken her great courage to kneel and apologize, yet he had not even looked her in the eye. The feeling rendered her inexplicably powerless.


    This inherent disregard was more painful than a p in the face!


    Hong Yuting was consumed by deep despair, feeling as though she had been hollowed out.


    "Now I understand why, after Hong Qingyan agreed, grandfather said it was the best decision of her life. It¡¯s because of this decision that Hong Qingyan would gain immense honor!" Hong Weimented sadly.

 Chapter 57: Achievement of the Martial King, the Respect of Ten Thousand!

    Ye Feng returned to the Inner Courtyard and had earlier visited Old Master Hong.


    Hong Zhenguo was out of bed; although still very weak, he could barely sit up.


    "Mr.Ye, my health is not well, so I can¡¯t pay you my respects!"


    Hong Zhenguo leaned forward with a smile and added, "I have heard about the events that have taken ce these past few days."


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t pick up the conversation, instead, he asked, "How is your health?"


    "Much better now."


    Hong Zhenguo nodded and continued, "Thank you for everything that has happened during this period. As for Hong Yuting and the others, I hope Mr.Ye won¡¯t take offense."


    Ye Feng rarely smiled and said, "If I took them seriously, I¡¯m afraid they wouldn¡¯t know how many times they¡¯d died by now."


    Hong Zhenguo could only offer a bitter smile in response.


    Just as the man before him had said, what status did he have, the Sovereign of the Northern Border, the youngest and most promising king among the four realms and eight wastes of the country. Such breadth of spirit and magnanimity naturally wouldn¡¯t stoop to the level of ants.


    "Mr. Ye, you have mostly recovered by now. Jiangdu is after all too small, it cannot contain a True Dragon. When do you n to start your journey back to the capital?" Hong Zhenguo asked.


    Ye Feng pondered for a moment and did not hide his intentions, "I won¡¯t return to the capital for now. I¡¯ll first make a trip to Jiangnan Provincial City; there are still some matters that need resolving."


    Hong Zhenguo nodded and did not inquire about the specifics, as it was not within his ce to ask.


    "When does Mr.Ye n to set off?"


    "Tomorrow!" said Ye Feng.


    "If you¡¯re leaving tomorrow, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to see you off, Mr.Ye. If you don¡¯t mind, allow Qingyan to apany you. After all, the two of you are acquainted, and with her looking after your diet and daily life, it will be more convenient."


    Ye Feng turned his head, nced at Hong Qingyan who was standing to the side with hopeful eyes, and nodded, "Alright, I¡¯ll take her with me!"


    Hong Qingyan¡¯s big eyes twirled, she wanted to say something but in the end, kept silent. Of course, she knew that Ye Feng¡¯s willingness to take her with him spoke a volume by itself.


    "Take good care of yourself, and when you get to the capital or the Northern Border, I¡¯ll buy you a drink!" After saying this, Ye Feng left.


    Watching the young man¡¯s retreating back as he sat in the wheelchair, Hong Zhenguo was filled with mixed emotions. To be invited for a drink by him was an honor indeed. If this news reached the capital or the Northern Border, it would surely cause quite a stir, and the status of the Hong Family would also rise with the tide.


    "What a pity... there is not one among the younger generation of the Hong Family who hase of age, all are just dregs that can¡¯t be depended on. If only there was one of the Hong Family¡¯s younger generation following him, then my life would be without regrets!" Hong Zhenguo shook his head and sighed deeply.


    Without another word that night, the next day at dawn, Ye Feng suddenly felt an epiphany and sat up abruptly in bed.


    Looking outside the window, it was just barely light, as if the first rays of the morning were only just beginning to spread.


    "This feeling..."


    Without hesitation, Ye Feng immediately sat cross-legged in the Seal Formation, entering a pattern of regted and rhythmic breathing. Soon, a dense white mist formed above his head.


    Since the Realm of Nine Return to One, the original colorful Qi Force of Five Qi Returning to Origin had faded, reverting to a single color, an evident return to simplicity. At a nce, it seemed no different from the initial breakthrough to Master of Inner Force.


    However, in reality, a Grandmaster who had achieved Nine Return to One was worlds apart from a newly advanced Master. Indeed, after the state of Five Qi Returning to Origin, a Grandmaster of Inner Force could also be called Huajin.


    Such a Huajin Grandmaster signified that one¡¯s mastery over their Inner Strength had reached a point of sublime perfection.


    Seventeen¡¯s current realm is only at the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, not yet a Huajin Grandmaster. Meanwhile, Long Zaitian, the Leader of the Jiangdu Martial Alliance, is already a Huajin Grandmaster who has reached Five Qi Toward the Origin.


    As for Ye Feng¡­


    He was still cultivating. The white mist above his head surged continuously, and soon an incredible scene urred as the white mist suddenly gathered downward, converging toward his eyes.


    Within Ye Feng¡¯s body, his inner strength that was like a raging torrent had also started to rush wildly toward the position of his eyes.


    At this moment, if a Martial King were present, they would certainly know that this was Open Aperture! After Nine Return to One, the next step for a Huajin Grandmaster is to Open Aperture, to break through the body¡¯s acupoints.


    Once the acupoints are open, one¡¯s hearing and vision will sharpen, and the body bes lighter and more agile. At the same time, the capacity to store inner strength will also be much deeper, providing many unexpected benefits.


    This realm, deemed as Martial King by the Martial Alliance, is the true sovereign!


    Before Ye Feng was wounded, even though he was the youngest and most potential sovereign in the nation, he had been stuck at the Nine Return to One realm for more than two years without a breakthrough, definitive in the eyes of those old monsters in the nation.


    Before the age of thirty, it was definite that Ye Feng could not be a Martial King, because he was too young, needing at least until the age of thirty-five to umte experience!


    However, even if he became a Martial King at thirty-five, he would still be the youngest and most potential sovereign in the nation!


    Indeed, it was precisely because of this that some people in the nation, seeing his tremendous potential and supreme authority within the Four Realms, began to harbor unusual thoughts.


    Ye Feng was in a peaceful state of mind, as he hadn¡¯t expected to break through so soon, having been stuck at this barrier for over two years already.


    However, it was precisely because of this tranquil and calm state of mind that suddenly there was a cracking sound within him, as if something had been broken through and opened up.


    Then, Ye Feng slowly opened his eyes, and two beams of golden light shot out from his vision.


    "Eyes shing with golden light, Eye Acupoint open, all of Heaven and Earth can be observed!" Ye Feng suddenly had an epiphany.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In that moment, his aura began to surge, strengthening more than fivefold, and the Qi Force inside his body became even more robust and powerful.


    "The Realm of the Martial King, this is the Realm of the Martial King. No wonder those old monsters in the nation said that below the Martial King, all are as ants, it really is so!" Ye Feng was filled with excitement.


    "Who would have thought that the bottleneck which held me back for two years would break through so inexplicably today? Is this the legendary concept where things must be broken down before they can stand anew? The fact that all my bones were broken earlier seemed to have prepared me for this?"


    Ye Feng slightly raised the corner of his mouth into a cold smile, feeling that this was probably the fortune that follows great disaster.


    "Now that I¡¯ve achieved the Martial King realm, my return to the capital or the Northern Border is even more certain. Once the matters in the Jiangnan Province are settled, I¡¯ll make a strongeback!"


    Ye Feng clenched his fist slightly, and a thought suddenly crossed his mind. He immediately heard distant rustling footsteps.


    After opening the Eye Acupoint, not only was his vision strength remarkable, but his hearing had also greatly improved. Of course, Ye Feng also recognized that these were the limping steps of Hong Qingyan.


    Hong Qingyan knocked and entered, then started to help Ye Feng wash up, before the two of them headed to the outer courtyard for breakfast.


    The breakfast wasvish, specially prepared by Zhang Yuman. Ye Feng didn¡¯t say anything, just buried his head and began to eat heartily. After achieving the Martial King realm, his appetite had greatly increased, and he chose to directly ignore the asional furtive nces and expressions that Hong Yuting sent him in secret.


    Just then, a guard suddenly walked in to announce that Mr. Luo Keque from the Divine Doctor Sect hade with an urgent matter to discuss.


    "Luo Keque? Let him in!" Ye Feng said.

 Chapter 58: A Major Incident in the Divine Doctor Sect

    Luo Keque only entered after receiving permission. He came to Ye Feng and respectfully performed a salute before saying, "I apologize for disturbing Mr. Ye early in the morning, but it was a necessity. I hope Mr. Ye does not take offense."


    Ye Feng inquired, "Has something happened to the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect?"


    Luo Keque replied, "Not exactly the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect, but rather the Provincial City in the Southern River Region Jiangnan."


    "The Provincial City in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province?" Ye Feng raised an eyebrow and put down his chopsticks.


    "It is like this. Latest night, an urgent message suddenly came from the Divine Doctor Sect in the Provincial City, stating that the elders of several major families, even including one or two heads of the big ns, have all suddenly contracted a strange illness."


    "A strange illness? Is it that even the Divine Doctor Sect in the Provincial City has no solution?"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "None. This strange illness is quite rare, and they are at a loss in the Provincial City. Therefore, they issued a decree overnight to the Divine Doctor Sects in the several cities under them, ordering all high-level members of the Divine Doctor Sects to gather and go to the Provincial City for a consultation."


    As Luo Keque spoke of this, he let out a bitterugh and continued, "Although I possess some medical skills, they are merely superficial. If even the Provincial City is at a loss, my humble capabilities are likely of no help either. However, I suddenly thought of Mr. Ye..."


    "It was alreadytest night, and I didn¡¯t dare to disturb Mr. Ye¡¯s rest, so I came early in the morning to make this request."


    Ye Feng smiled and said, "You mean to say, you want me to apany you to the Provincial City in the Southern River Region Jiangnan?"


    Luo Keque replied, "Mr. Ye¡¯s medical skills reach the sky. If Mr. Ye is willing to make a move, any strange diseases or rare poisons will naturally be trivial matters!"


    Although his words contained some ttery, they were sincerely meant. After all, to his knowledge, within the entire Divine Doctor Sect, there were only a few who had reached the status of Huajin Grandmaster, and even fewer who could perform the Ancient Divine Needle Technique of Phoenix Returns to Heaven.


    Ye Feng pondered for a moment and then said, "If that¡¯s the case, I will apany you to the Provincial City!"


    Ye Feng had also nned to take a trip to the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province. Apart from needing to learn about the Jiang Family¡¯s situation, there was also the Yin Family, which appeared to be subtly connected to the Gu&Poison Sect in the Southern Border. He was determined to investigate this thoroughly.


    Luo Keque bowed deeply and thanked him, "Then I thank Mr. Ye. I will go back to the Divine Doctor Sect to make arrangements. Would Mr. Ye be so kind as to deign to visit the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect first and then we travel together by special car to the Provincial City?"


    "Agreed," Ye Feng uttered just one word.


    "Then I will wait respectfully for Mr. Ye at the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect!" Luo Keque said and after bowing once again, he left.


    Throughout this period, Zhang Yuman and Hong Yuting watched everything. Seeing Luo Keque, a divine doctor with an immense reputation in Jiangdu, acting like a servant in their presence, they both felt a mix ofplex emotions.


    For a time, the dining room suddenly became quiet. Zhang Yuman wanted to say something to break the awkward silence, but she suddenly found herself feeling immense pressure even just standing before this young man in a wheelchair, let alone speaking.


    As for Hong Yuting, she had thought that with her looks, she might gradually change Ye Feng¡¯s opinion of her. After all, if Hong Qingyan, a girl with a limp, could do it, she felt she shouldn¡¯t lose to Hong Qingyan. She had never been defeated before since she was young.


    However, she was quickly proven very wrong, severely so. Throughout the period, Ye Feng didn¡¯t even spare her a nce, treating her as if she were air.


    This made Hong Yuting feel frustrated and at the same time, a deep sense of powerlessness!


    Upon hearing the news, Hong Tianming hurried back from thepany and said, "Son-inw, are you going to the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province? Do you need me to apany you, or should I ask Yuting to go with you? It would be more convenient for taking care of you."


    Zhang Yuman finally saw an opportunity and said with a smile, "Yes, although Qingyan can take care of people, her leg is a hindrance, after all. It would be better to let Yuting go as well. She can take better care of you."


    Hong Qingyan didn¡¯t speak; she just pursed her lips into a pout.


    Seeing her like this, Ye Feng couldn¡¯t help joking, "Qingyan, what do you think?"


    Hong Qingyan replied with annoyance, "I wouldn¡¯t dare to make that decision for Big Brother Ye. After all, Big Brother Ye is now our family¡¯s Frenzied Son-in-Law."


    This little girl clearly seemed a bit angry and jealous.


    Ye Fengughed heartily and said, "What are you dawdling for? Aren¡¯t you going to pack your luggage quickly?"


    Hong Qingyan didn¡¯t say a word and immediately scampered back to the Inner Courtyard.


    Zhang Yuman asked, "So does our esteemed son-inw mean that Yu Ting should also go? Should I have her pack right away?"


    "No need, the weather has been quite hot these past few days, just let her stay wherever it¡¯s cool," Ye Feng spoke indifferently.


    A surge of annoyance rose in Zhang Yuman, as she habitually wanted to scold him¡ªafter all, in her view, her own daughter was a precious "gold branch and jade leaf," surely she wasn¡¯t inferior to that adopted cripple?


    But before she could speak, she was hastily pulled away by Hong Tianming.


    Hong Qingyan quickly came out with a suitcase on wheels, which Seventeen took over, while Hong Qingyan pushed Ye Feng¡¯s wheelchair.


    Hong Yuting had been sitting silently the whole time, but seeing Ye Feng about to leave, she suddenly stood up and roared word by word, "Mr. Ye, listen well!"


    "You¡¯ve humiliated me in every possible way today, and even mud figures have a temper to lose, let alone a youngdy of status. I know you have some abilities behind you, but don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re ultimately just a wheelchair-bound cripple, and the Provincial City of Southern River Region Jiangnan is not the same as Jiangdu!"


    "You can be arrogant in Jiangdu without anyone affecting you, but do you think no one in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province can deal with you? I assure you, the moment you step into Southern River Region Jiangnan, the Jiang Family will be the first not to let you off!"


    Hong Tianming¡¯splexion changed drastically upon hearing these words, and he hurried forward to pull her away, but he was shaken off by Hong Yuting.


    "Why are you stopping me? You all may fear this Frenzied Son-in-Law of the Hong Family, but I sure don¡¯t. It¡¯s nothing great if you don¡¯t take me along; I can go to Southern River Region Jiangnan Province all the same. And then, I want to see for myself how this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family is going to die!"


    Upon hearing this, Seventeen suddenly stopped, his entire body tensing up¡ªan omen he disyed before taking action.


    Ye Feng waved his hand casually and said, "If she wants to watch, then let her watch."


    "Yes!" Seventeen nodded and resumed pulling the suitcase.


    After getting into the vehicle, the three of them set off, circling around most of the city district before arriving at an ancient manor in the eastern suburbs.


    The manorprised old-style buildings, which had been refurbished and were exquisitely decorated.


    Luo Keque was already waiting outside the gate. Seeing Ye Feng get out of the car, he approached quickly and said, "It¡¯s truly an honor for Mr. Ye to condescend to visit the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect!"


    Ye Feng waved his hand, "Let¡¯s forego the pleasantries; let¡¯s talk inside."


    Luo Keque nodded and led the way, saying, "Mr. Ye, the Sect Master of the Qitian Gate heard that you would be visiting today and postponed his trip to the Provincial City. He is waiting in the hall."


    Ye Feng asked, "Have you told him about my business?"


    "I haven¡¯t mentioned anything to the Lord of Qi!"


    Luo Keque naturally knew that the other party was referring to the Phoenix Returns to Heaven Needle Technique. Sighing, he added, "The Lord of Qi usually holds himself in high regard. I seldom converse with him, and besides, without Mr. Ye¡¯s permission, I wouldn¡¯t dare to spread the news recklessly."


    In truth, Luo Keque had his own ulterior motives for behaving this way; he hoped that this mysterious young man would have a direct confrontation with the Qitian Gate, preferably overpowering the Qitian Gatepletely, so he could then naturally im the position of Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect.


    Of course, Ye Feng wasn¡¯t blind to Luo Keque¡¯s intentions, but he simply couldn¡¯t be bothered to call him out on them.

 Chapter 59: I’m Not a Pushover Either

    The architecture of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect was ancient, evoking a sense of the great river of time.


    There were already seven or eight people in the hall, mostly high-ranking members of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect. Lord Qi of Qitian Gate sat resolutely in the center, with another Vice Sect Leader beside him, along with several elders who managed the sect¡¯s affairs.


    Looking out from the door along the hall, those inside could clearly see a young girl with a limp, slowly pushing a wheelchair towards them.


    The young person sitting in the wheelchair was indeed very young. He didn¡¯t look particrly handsome, but he had a unique and firm appearance, the sort whose face wasn¡¯t initially striking but became increasingly appealing and charismatic the more one looked.


    If there was anything especially notable, it was the young man¡¯s eyes, which always looked straightforward, calm to a surprising degree, even carrying an air of transcendence.


    This young person was, of course, Ye Feng!


    Another Vice Sect Leader of the Divine Doctor Sect, Liang Zhong, squinted as he sized up Ye Feng for a moment before whispering, "Lord Qi, what is so special about this young man?"


    Lord Qi of Qitian Gate snorted coldly without speaking, but his anger was unmistakably etched on his face.


    A few days ago at the Jiangdu martial arts school, during the martial gathering of the Three Great Ancient Families, Ye Feng publicly insulted Lord Qi in front of everyone in Jiangdu, showing no regard for him. Considering that Qi himself was the esteemed Sect Leader of the Divine Doctor Sect, how could he not be furious?


    If it weren¡¯t for the rumors he had heard about this Mr. Ye in the past couple of days, indicating that the wheelchair-bound cripple had some capabilities, he would have already sent people to settle the score.


    But Lord Qi could never have imagined that this cripple, this frenzied son-inw of the Hong Family, would be so audacious as to dare to personally visit the Divine Doctor Sect!


    An administrator pondered before saying, "Lord Qi, I¡¯ve heard some rumors that this young man in the wheelchair shouldn¡¯t even be offended by Long Zaitian of the Martial Alliance. Shouldn¡¯t we be cautious for the time being?"


    Lord Qi of Qitian Gate let out a snort and said, "So what? The Jiangdu Martial Alliance oversees the Martial Dao World, and the Divine Doctor Sect is in charge of the medical field; they are two different concepts. If the Jiangdu Martial Alliance fears this kid, that¡¯s Long Zaitian¡¯sck of courage!"


    The other administrators and elders remained silent, clearly having made up their minds about the situation.


    At that moment, led by Luo Keque, Ye Feng¡¯s wheelchair had entered the hall.


    Lord Qi of Qitian Gate did not move, still sitting in the seat of honor, radiating an aura of superiority.


    He did not rise, so naturally, neither did Vice Sect Leader Liang Zhong or the other administrators and elders.


    The atmosphere in the reception hall instantly became tense, as everyone simply stared at Ye Feng, not even bothering to utter a word.


    Ye Feng¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his gaze fixed on the que hanging above the reception hall, inscribed with the four sizeable gold-painted characters dering their mission to "Heal the World with Our Pots".


    Ye Feng was no stranger to these four characters. In fact, he was quite familiar with them because he had written them in earlier years!


    Of course, the que of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect was not Ye Feng¡¯s authentic handwriting. He had written only one, which now hung in the great hall of the headquarters of the Imperial Divine Medical Sect. The one in Jiangdu was evidently made to imitate that of the Imperial headquarters, though the writing remained unchanged.


    When Ye Feng proposed the creation of the Divine Doctor Sect, he had been too busy establishing the Martial Alliance to be involved personally, so he entrusted friends from the Valley of the Medicine King to found the sect.


    After the establishment of the Divine Doctor Sect, that friend from the Valley of the Medicine King invited Ye Feng to be the honorary Sect Leader of the Divine Doctor Sect and asked him to inscribe a motto as the sect¡¯s guiding principle!


    However, Ye Feng was always low-profile, much like the Grand Alliance Leader of Jiangdu, and so not many knew of his role as the honorary leader of the Divine Doctor Sect.


    Seeing that the atmosphere was getting a bit bizarre, Luo Keque quickly stepped forward and said with a smile, "Let me introduce, this is Mr. Ye Feng who has been the talk of Jiangdu recently!"


    Only then did Qitian Gate grunt indifferently, "So it¡¯s Mr. Ye, forgive my old eyes for not recognizing you at first, no offense meant!"


    Though he said this, his behind still didn¡¯t leave his chair, and he continued to sit there with an attitude that was haughtily dismissive to the extreme.


    Ye Feng wasn¡¯t angry either, and he chuckled lightly, "Since Lord Qi¡¯s eyes are failing and his hands are not so steady with needles, it¡¯s also time to step down from that high position."


    Qitian Gate roared withughter, like the sound of thunder reverberating in the hall, unceasing. Of course, he could do so because he was using his Inner Strength.


    When Inner Strength is released through one¡¯s voice, it naturally bes more powerful and resonant. By doing this, Qitian Gate was undoubtedly sending a message¡ªI, too, am a Master of Inner Force!


    You, surnamed Ye, may have some skill, but I¡¯m not easy prey!


    After hisughter ceased, Qitian Gate then snorted coldly, "This seat I upy today is secured by superior medical skill and ethics. When I step down is not something that just anybody can decide with a few words!"


    Ye Feng smiled, on the verge of saying that he didn¡¯t need a few words but just a phone call to kick you off that seat.


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    But before he could speak, Deputy Sect Leader Liang Zhong spoke coldly, "Luo Keque, you are a Vice Sect Leader after all. Don¡¯t you know the rules of the Divine Doctor Sect? Our sect has always kept its distance from outsiders. Now you let such an outsider in, what is your intention?"


    One of Qitian Gate¡¯s trusted stewards sneered, "Isn¡¯t it obvious? Deputy Sect Leader Luo probably thinks he stands above the rest in the Divine Doctor Sect and can override the rules."


    Luo Keque was not flustered because he was acutely aware of what manner of figure this young man in the wheelchair really was.


    "Let¡¯s not get angry, gentlemen, allow me to do a proper introduction!"


    Luo Keque slightly moved forward, smiling, "Lord Qi¡¯s medical skills are unquestionably excellent, but my friend Mr. Ye¡¯s medical skills are also extraordinary, even to the extent of being called a Peerless Divine Doctor. Although he is not one of us from the Divine Doctor Sect, medics share amon heart and hence I took the liberty to invite him here."


    Ye Feng couldn¡¯t help but snicker inwardly, thinking how this old geezer Luo Keque really knew how to ride coattails, boldly proiming in front of all these people that he was his friend.


    Nevertheless, Ye Feng didn¡¯t say much. Even though Luo Keque had his own agendas, it was generally harmless and his attitude was sufficiently respectful, which was far morepliant with the timespared to Long Zaitian and others.


    "A Peerless Divine Doctor?"


    As expected, as soon as Luo Keque¡¯s words fell, the entire hall bristled with outrage, almost all the stewards and elders showing anger on their faces.


    "In the face of the Divine Doctor Sect, to call him a Peerless Divine Doctor, Luo Keque," Liang Zhong said with a sneer, "you should know there¡¯s a limit to ttery, aren¡¯t you afraid of lifting this cripple so high that he can¡¯t bear it and falls to his death?"


    "Exactly, calling an outsider a Peerless Divine Doctor in the presence of the Divine Doctor Sect is like showing off one¡¯s swordsmanship before Guan Yu."


    Luo Keque¡¯s face remained unchanged, but inwardly he was ted, thinking that these myopic fools should just go ahead and mock and belittle to their heart¡¯s content. The harsher they scorn and suppress him now, the more painful it¡¯ll be when they witness his capabilities!


    "I must tell everyone, Mr. Ye is indeed a prodigious doctor; I haven¡¯t lied about this!" Luo Keque dered firmly.


    With a sudden move, Qitian Gate stood up abruptly, enraged!

 Chapter 60 A High and Mighty Person

    Seeing Lord Qi stand up, the elders and stewards all fell silent, evidently, the authority of the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect was quite substantial.


    Lord Qi took strides forward, step by step, until he stood before Ye Feng, looking down at him with a sneer curving his lips, he coldly asked, "Luo Keque just now imed you''re the Peerless Divine Doctor, do you think you are?"


    This statement was brimming with provocation!


    Ye Feng''s expression remained serene as he replied, "No, I am not."


    When Lord Qi heard this, heughed, but before the sound could escape his lips.


    Ye Feng suddenly added, "Compared to you all, I should not be called the Peerless Divine Doctor, but rather, the Great Luo Divine Doctor!"


    Whoosh...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The atmosphere instantly surged with agitation once again, as theplexions of the other stewards and elders changed drastically. They had long heard that this young man in the wheelchair was known as the Frenzied Son-in-Law of the Hong Family, and it seemed today''s events proved it true.


    Utterly audacious, to the point of no bounds!


    Lord Qi''s eyes narrowed further, and his brows furrowed deeper, anger rendering him momentarily at a loss for words.


    The trusted steward scoffed, "You im to be a divine doctor, but tell me, have you formally studied medicine and obtained a license to practice? I''m referring to one officially recognized, not some counterfeit bought from the streets."


    Ye Feng shook his head, saying, "I haven''t, nor do I have a license to practice medicine!"


    "Ridiculous, truly the height of absurdity!"


    The trusted stewardughed coldly, "You haven''t even formally studied medicine, let alone have a license to practice, and yet you call yourself a divine doctor? Do you think we''re three-year-old children? If you are a divine doctor, then wouldn''t we all be Great Luo Divine Doctors, and Lord Qi could be dered the King of Divine Doctors!"


    True to form as the Sect Master''s confidant, he did not forget to tter Lord Qi in the end.


    Luo Keque said, "Mr. Ye might truly not possess a license to practice medicine, but..."


    He was unable to finish his sentence as Lord Qi interjected with a cold huff, "Enough, no need to say more. Not having a license to practice medicine is preposterous enough as it is. Right now, we need to rush to the Provincial City in the Southern River Region, so there''s no need to waste words here."


    After finishing his statement, Lord Qi turned to Ye Feng and said, "As for so-called Divine Doctor Ye, I consider myself to be magnanimous, and given that you were invited by Luo Keque, I will not stoop to your level. You may leave."


    Ye Feng''s eyes slowly narrowed, ready to erupt.


    Luo Keque hurriedly said, "Mr. Ye cannot leave; it took great effort to invite him here, and I was just about to invite him to apany us to the Provincial City in the Southern River Region!"


    "You want him to apany us to the Provincial City, Luo Keque have you lost your mind?"


    Lord Qi furiously said, "I just exined, I am magnanimous and won''t trouble myself with someone ignorant of medical arts, but that doesn''t mean others won''t take issue, especially at the Divine Doctor Sect in the Provincial City. If they find out you invited an outsider without even a license to practice, what do you think their reaction will be?"


    Standing his ground, Luo Keque argued, "I don''t know what they''ll think, nor do I care. All I know is that Mr. Ye is the Peerless Divine Doctor, and I must invite him!"


    Lord Qi retorted coldly, "Are you really set on inviting him?"


    "Absolutely!" Luo Keque was resolute.


    Lord Qi replied, "Fine, since you insist on inviting him, I have a condition. This person can only be invited in your private capacity, not as a representative of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect."


    Lord Qi snorted, then added, "I must remind you, Luo Keque, that if the headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the Provincial City finds out that you invited an unlicensed outsider, they will surely be furious. You''d better think this through!"


    Luo Keque snorted back, "Mr. Ye is here strictly on my personal invitation, which has nothing to do with the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect. If the upper echelons of the sect in the Provincial City cast me, I shall bear full responsibility!"


    When Luo Keque said this, he was thinking that not even the higher-ups of the Provincial Divine Medical Sect would be able to use the Phoenix Returns to Heaven needle technique, let alone me him for it.


    Not to mention using it, they probably haven''t even seen it in their lifetime!


    "Luo Keque, you''ve done well. Let''s wait and see what happens. Let''s go!" Lord of Qi gestured grandly, giving Ye Feng a harsh re before striding out of the hall.


    Of course, had he not heard about Ye Feng''s extraordinary background and the presence of a Great Grandmaster following him in the past few days, he would have chased the guests away without wasting words.


    Lord of Qi led the way, diving into his car first, followed by Vice Sect Leader Liang Zhong and several confidants who got into the vehicle and then left the Divine Doctor Sect courtyard with a roar, heading straight for the Provincial City.


    Luo Keque turned around and bowed, "I''m really sorry, Mr. Ye. I wanted to exin more about your medical techniques, but I was afraid of revealing too much; I didn''t want to upset you, so I didn''t mention it to them beforehand."


    Ye Feng squinted at him, looking him up and down.


    Luo Keque instantly tensed up, his heart in turmoil, struggling to grasp the situation.


    "Mr. Ye..." Luo Keque asked tentatively.


    "You''re very smart!" Ye Feng said.


    At this, Luo Keque''s heart leaped with joy, but the next words from Ye Feng immediately dampened his spirits.


    Ye Feng continued, "The reason I say you''re smart is that you know how to take advantage of situations and how to cunninglyy traps for Lord of Qi. You pushed me forward, wanting to use me to eliminate Lord of Qi, to help you ascend to the position of Sect Master of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect."


    Sweat was streaming down Luo Keque''s face, and his legs even began to shake as he stammered, "Mr. Ye..."


    "Don''t rush to exin!"


    Ye Feng waved his hand to interrupt, never allowing interruptions when he was making a point. He continued, "When I say you are smart, I am not being sarcastic. However, you must understand that it is but a clever trick!"


    Luo Keque quickly asked, "Then may I ask, Mr. Ye, what is true wisdom?"


    "True wisdom lies there..." Ye Feng said, pointing to the que hanging overhead.


    Luo Keque looked up and nced at it, his face showing puzzlement; clearly, he did not understand.


    With a sigh, Ye Feng said, "I don''t mind your trickery, but I want you to remember the four characters on that que, and you must know that the spirit of the Divine Doctor Sect is ''a doctor''s kind heart.'' As long as you have a kind heart, as long as you are willing to study and refine your medical skills, you shouldn''t just aspire to be the minor Sect Master of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect.


    Even bing the Sect Master of the Provincial Divine Medical Sect is not too far-fetched!"


    "Even the position of Chief Sect Leader of the Imperial Divine Medical Sect is not out of the question!"


    After saying this, Ye Feng pushed his wheelchair out of the hall, leaving Luo Keque standing there, stunned and alone.


    Luo Keque was as still as a statue, but inside, he was shaken by enormous waves.


    "Promised to let me be the Sect Master of the Provincial Divine Medical Sect, or even the Chief Sect Leader of the Imperial Divine Medical Sect? That''s just too..."


    Originally, he wanted to say that Ye Feng was being too arrogant, but it was clear that Ye Feng was not lying. That meant he held that kind of power!


    "Heavens, what sort of powerful person have I allied myself with?"


    Luo Keque shivered all over, but quickly cleared his head: "Of course, it''s not without conditions. The prerequisite is that the medical skills be enough, and more importantly, one must be willing to ''hang the pot to help the world'' and save lives!"


    "A doctor''s kind heart... I understand now, that is true wisdom and great intelligence!" Luo Keque sighed deeply and hurried to catch up.

 Chapter 61 Dont Ask What You Shouldnt Ask

    Several luxury cars drove out of the ancient estate of the Divine Doctor Sect, with Qitian Gate, the leader, sitting in the backseat with one leg crossed over the other, lookingpletely at ease.


    "Thinking it over," the Vice Sect Leader, Liang Zhong, said, "Luo Keque is always steady, and he never acts without purpose. Since he ims that youngster surnamed Ye is a Peerless Divine Doctor, he might really have some skills."


    "Peerless Divine Doctor? You tell me, all of us here have been studying medicine since we were kids, and we have spent most of our lives delving into the medicinal arts, yet none of us dare to call ourselves divine doctors. That kid, a greenhorn barely weaned from milk, do you think he has that capability?"


    Qitian Gate snorted, then nodded and added, "But you''re also right. We should be prepared for the improbable, just in case. If even Long Zaitian doesn''t dare to act rashly against this kid, perhaps he really has some abilities. We cannot let our guard down."


    Liang Zhong asked, "Then, may I ask the Sect Leader, how should we prepare?"


    "That''s simple," he scoffed, a confident expression revealing his control over the situation. "To deal with him, there''s no need for the Sect Leader to take action personally. Just a little brainpower is enough to give that kid a hard time!"


    Qitian Gate sneered, "Wasn''t that kid responsible for killing an elder from the Jiang Family? Now he is heading to the Provincial City in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province. All I need to do now is to make a phone call to inform the Jiang Family of this news. Just think about it, what do you think the Jiang Family''s response will be?"


    "Do you even need to ask? The Jiang Family will definitely be thunderously furious and will send experts to intercept and kill him," Liang Zhong blurted out without hesitation.


    "Exactly!" Qitian Gate said, rolling his eyes and then bursting intoughter.


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng was sitting in thest car, leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed, resting. He wasn''t naive; he was well aware of the potential dangers of his uing journey to the Southern River Region Jiangnan, even Hong Qingyan had warned him about it.


    Although he was the Northern Border King, he might still be cautious before finally breaking through to be a Martial King; after all, it could lead toplications with the Gu&Poison Sect in the Southern Border, which even the Southern Territory had not been able topletely eradicate over the past decade.


    Now, however, Ye Feng had seeded in Opening his Aperture and achieved the esteemed status of a Martial King. In this world, there were hardly any threats to him anymore!


    After one hour and a half, everyone finally arrived in the Provincial City of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province. It was, after all, the Provincial City, undoubtedly more bustling than Jiangdu City, with towering buildings on both sides and a constant stream of traffic like an endless procession of horses and carriages.


    Luo Keque, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and said, "Mr. Ye, we have now arrived in the Provincial City. We''ve just received word from the Divine Doctor Sect here that we don''t need to gather at the Sect. We''ll head straight to the Provincial City''s No. 1 Hospital."


    "Straight to the hospital?" Ye Feng inquired.


    "Yes," Luo Keque responded, "the message from there said that the head of the Cui Family, one of the Four Great Families, has contracted that strange illness, and his condition is very critical. They''ve asked us to go directly to the No. 1 Hospital in the Provincial City for a group consultation."


    Ye Feng nodded, then asked, "Tell me, what are the Four Great Families of the Southern River Region Provincial City?"


    Luo Keque turned his head again to nce at Ye Feng, who still had his eyes closed and was leaning back, and he couldn''t believe that Mr. Ye didn''t even know the Four Great Families of the Provincial City.


    However, upon further thought, it made sense. Mr. Ye, though a Foster Son of the Fu Family and the Frenzied Son-in-Law of the Hong Family, hadn''t been in Jiangdu or the Provincial City over the years. His identity and background were extraordinarily mysterious, and he might have only just returned from the Imperial City, so his ignorance was understandable.


    "The Four Great Families of the Southern River Region Provincial City include the previously mentioned Jiang Family and the Cui Family. In addition, there is the Yin Family..."


    "The Yin Family?" Ye Feng raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yes, the Yin Family tends to keep a low profile, and their family disciples rarely show themselves in the circles of the wealthy, but the power of their family should not be underestimated.


    Of course, the most powerful among the Four Great Families of the Southern River Region Provincial City is the Gusu Family," Luo Keque exined, pausing before continuing, "It''s said that the Gusu Murong Family is an ancient n with a thousand years of heritage, with a very powerful background. Here in the Provincial City, they are just one of the branches."


    Ye Feng suddenly asked, "As for the Four Great Families, aside from the Cui Family head contracting a strange disease, how are the other three faring right now?"


    Luo Keque answered, "Currently, we haven''t heard anything about the other three families, but it''s possible that my information is outdated. In addition, some of the slightly weaker family powers in the Provincial City have had many of their leaders contract this strange disease."


    Ye Feng nodded slightly, then asked, "How are your connections in the Provincial City?"


    Luo Keque gave a wry smile and said, "I''m afraid Mr. Ye mightugh at me, although I am the Vice Sect Leader of Jiangdu..."


    "Get to the point!" Ye Feng sternly interrupted as he did not like people beating around the bush.


    "Yes!" Luo Keque''s expression tightened as he said, "I don''t have any connections with the Four Great Families of the Provincial City, just some dealings with a second-tier family, the Pang Family."


    Ye Feng said, "After we arrive in the Provincial City, use your connections to investigate the Yin Family for me."


    "Investigate the Yin Family?" Luo Keque''splexion changed slightly as he asked, "May I ask Mr. Ye, is this Yin Family perhaps..."


    But before he could finish, Ye Feng interrupted in a deep voice, "From now on, when Imand something, just do it. Don''t ask about things you shouldn''t, understood?"


    "Yes!" Luo Keque immediately nodded, although his mind couldn''t help but race.


    The other party wanted to investigate the Yin Family; could it be that he had not only made an enemy of the Jiang Family but also offended the Yin Family? If it were true, he would have to carefully consider how to interact with him from now on.


    After all, offending one Jiang Family was terrifying enough, but if he had also offended the low-key and mysterious Yin Family, it meant half of the Four Great Families in the Provincial City were made enemies of, suggesting it would be nearly impossible to gain a foothold in the Jiangnan Province afterward.


    After the car entered the Provincial City, it slowed down, circling around the highway for half an hour before finally arriving at the first hospital in the city.


    "Mr. Ye, we''ve arrived!" Luo Keque got out of the car and then hurried over to Ye Feng''s side to open the car door.


    Ye Feng alighted from the car with the help of Hong Qingyan and Seventeen and sat in a wheelchair.


    Ahead, people from Qitian Gate had also alighted, and Liang Zhong gave Ye Feng a re before whispering, "Sect Leader, that crippled frenzied son-inw from the Hong Family really followed us here."


    "Don''t bother with such an arrogant and ignorant young man. I have already notified the Jiang Family. Now we just wait and enjoy the show. Let''s hurry inside; we don''t want to keep the big shots of the Provincial City Divine Doctor Sect waiting."


    After saying this, Qitian Gate straightened his attire and quickly entered the hospital with the aid of his assistant.


    "Mr. Ye, they are already in therge conference room at the back of the hospital. Should we go there directly now?" Luo Keque asked.


    "Go straight there!" Ye Feng''s gaze remained level, and, though his face seemed expressionless, it somehow exuded an air ofmanding pressure.


    Luo Keque said no more and led Ye Feng into the hospital. Upon showing the Divine Doctor Sect''s credentials, they quickly reached therge conference room on the top floor.


    The conference room was crowded with people from the high ranks of the Provincial City Divine Doctor Sect, a few in charge from each city district''s Divine Doctor Sect, and representatives from various grand families.


    The conference room was bustling, resembling a marketce. Ye Feng frowned slightly but said nothing. He quietly wheeled himself in.

 Chapter 62 Alarming the General Martial Alliance of Jiangnan

    None of those present paid attention to Ye Feng''s arrival; after all, the meeting room was crowded, and no one paid much attention to one more person, especially since he was in a wheelchair.


    In the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, there are a total of five cities under its jurisdiction, so there are ten seats in total.


    Among them, the central seat is upied by the Divine Doctor Sect of the Provincial City, with five seats belonging to the Sect Masters of the Divine Doctor Sect from each city, and the remaining four seats taken by representatives from the Four Great Families of the Provincial City.


    As for the others, they could only sit below. Ye Feng chose a secluded corner, nced slightly at the chairman''s seat, found no familiar faces, and thought it was normal. After all, it is just one of the provinces in the south; it''s not significantly outstanding in the entire country, so it was normal that no one recognized him.


    Even the high-ranking leaders of the Divine Doctor Sect of Jiangnan Provincial City, when ced within the National Divine Doctor Sect, only hold very ordinary statuses.


    Sect Master Qi Tianmen of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect was seated to the left of the Divine Doctor Sect of the Provincial City since Jiangdu City was the best developed among the five cities under the jurisdiction of the Provincial City.


    Suddenly, the previously noisyrge meeting room fell silent, and soon after, several elderly men dressed in silk robes walked out one after the other from the back.


    Those who were sitting immediately stood up, including Qi Tianmen, who immediately bowed respectfully to the three elders.


    Luo Keque introduced to Ye Feng from the side, "These three are the current leaders of the Divine Doctor Sect of the Provincial City. The one with the high cheekbones in the center is the Sect Master, and the other two are the Vice Sect Leaders."


    Ye Feng nodded slightly and asked in a low voice, "Has anyone from the Yin Familye?"


    "They have, over there!" Luo Keque pointed ahead.


    Following the direction of his pointing finger, Ye Feng saw a man in his forties with a hooked nose and a thin figure sitting there, his expression somber and cold, not revealing anything on the surface.


    At that moment, Sect Master Pang Dahai of the Divine Doctor Sect of the Provincial City waved his hand slightly to signal everyone to be quiet, then spoke, "Originally, the convening of all the Divine Doctor Sects of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province should have been a happy event, but at this moment, there is no joy in my heart, quite the opposite, it feels very heavy!"


    Pang Dahai had high cheekbones and exceptionally long arms, so long that they even looked somewhat twisted and deformed. Ye Feng could tell at a nce that the other party must have specialized in practicing arm techniques for many years, which had led to the abnormal development of his arms.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    This also indicated that the guy was a formidable expert, and while speaking, his breath was long and steady, clearly a Master of Inner Force. As to whether he had reached the Huajin Grandmaster level, Ye Feng couldn''t tell just yet.


    Pang Dahai continued, "There is not much time, so I will make it brief. The reason for assembling everyone today is due to a strange illness that has appeared in the Provincial City recently, and moreover, it has appeared primarily among the powerful families in control."


    "Upon learning of this, I immediately sensed that it was out of the ordinary, and I dare to assert that this is not a natural sickness, but a man-made one!"


    As his words concluded, an uproar ensued throughout the meeting room.


    Someone eximed in disbelief, "Man-made? It is said that the Head of the Cui Family has also contracted this strange disease, and there are several other second-tier family leaders as well. This is already quite a substantial force."


    "If it''s really caused by human hands, then the perpetrator has quite some gall. It''s one thing to go after some second-tier families, but the Cui Family is among the Four Great Families of the Provincial City. They dare to strike even them; what exactly is their goal?"


    "No matter what their goal is, if someone deliberately did this, it indicates that they are after something significant and that the forces behind it must be no small matter!"


    "Quiet down!"


    Sect Master Pang Dahai tapped on the table until everyone wentpletely silent, then he said, "Currently, the Divine Doctor Sect of the Provincial City can confirm that this is definitely man-made. As to who is responsible and what their purpose is, that is not something our Divine Doctor Sect should be concerned with!"


    "It''s the job of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan to find out who is behind this and what their intentions are. This morning, I have already notified the high ranks of the Martial Alliance, and I believe they will take action soon!"


    Hearing this, Ye Feng chuckled to himself, "I had forgotten that the Provincial City also has a Martial Alliance. It looks like I will need to make a trip to the Martial Allianceter."


    Unable to help herself, Luo Keque asked, "Mr. Ye, do you also have contacts in the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan?"


    Ye Feng did not answer; he rarely answered questions he considered unnecessary, and Luo Keque tactfully closed her mouth.


    A Vice Sect Leader of the Jiangnan Divine Doctor Sect said, "The Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan has indicated that while they investigate the perpetrators, we should be responsible for saving people and provide them with as many useful clues as possible."


    Qi Tianmen added, "The senior members are absolutely right. Our Divine Doctor Sect has the duty to save lives and heal the wounded. Now that several powerful family leaders in the Provincial City have fallen ill, our Divine Doctor Sect naturally has an unavoidable responsibility."


    Although his words were obvious and added nothing new, they were quite well-received by the wealthy families of Jiangnan, with many leaders nodding repeatedly towards him, which made Qi Tianmen quite pleased with himself, feeling as though he had made a grand disy.


    "Master Pang, is it now possible for us to go in and take a closer look at the current physical condition of Head of the Cui Family?" one person asked.


    "I''m afraid that''s not possible, at least not for many people to go in and check," said Pang Dahai, shaking his head lightly. "Because up to this point, we are not yet certain if this strange illness is contagious or what kind of risks it entails!"


    Stay connected through empire


    He continued, "The purpose of today''s consultation is to first let everyone get a general idea of the situation and develop a preliminary consensus and direction. After that, we will select the five most skilled Divine Doctors to enter the istion ward for the critically ill to conduct medical diagnoses, and then formte a treatment n."


    At these words, the crowd began to stir again, with many eager to try their hand. After all, this was a consultation involving the entire Divine Doctor Sect of the Provincial City. Who wouldn''t want the opportunity to showcase their medical skills at such a high-profile event?


    Of course, it wasn''t just about making a grand appearance. Those afflicted were controllers of the Jiangnan wealthy families. If one were to cure these individuals, it would undoubtedly lead to forming connections with these wealthy families.


    After that, entering the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan would be almost a sure thing, and one might even be specially chosen to be an elder of the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan, henceforth leaping through the Dragon Gate.


    "Alright, let''s turn on the high-definition projector!" ordered one of the Vice Sect Leaders, waving his hand.


    The staff acted promptly, and soon the screen was revealed, disying a skeleton-thin old man. He was so gaunt that he appeared to be skin and bones as hey on the hospital bed, his breath weak to the extreme.


    "This is the head of the Pang Family of Southern River Region Jiangnan; he was suddenly admitted to the hospital in aa ten days ago. After two days with no effective diagnosis from the hospital, the case was reported to the Divine Doctor Sect. These past few days, the most significant symptom of the disease has been progressive wasting, with essence, qi, and spirit diminishing by the day."


    Upon seeing this, Ye Feng''s eyebrows twitched; he mused to himself, "Just as I expected!"

 Chapter 63 At this moment, the whole audience was shocked.

    Luo Keque looked intently at the projection screen for a moment then suddenly turned to Ye Feng and said, "Mr. Ye..."


    "Don''t rush, watch and then speak," Ye Feng''s expression remained calm.


    Then another person appeared on the projection screen, a middle-aged man in his forties, the family head of the Yan family, a second-rate family in the Southern River Region Jiangnan.


    "Yan Family head, Yan Bukuan, I believe many people here know him. Originally, he was a big fat man, his belly bulging as if he was nine months pregnant, but now look at him, he too has be skin and bones!"


    Pang Dahai said with a grave expression, "He was admitted to hospital eight days ago, and after two days of fruitless treatment, the Divine Doctor Sect was notified. Over the following days, his clinical symptoms progressed much like those of the head of the Pang Family, continuously wasting away with vitality steadily ebbing from his body!"


    Qitian Gate frowned and said, "Judging from the symptoms of both heads of the Pang and Yan Families just now, they seem to be exactly the same!"


    "Indeed, they''re basically the same. In fact, not just the two of them, the symptoms of several other family heads are also quite simr!"


    After Pang Tianhai finished speaking, he waved his hand again, and the screen subsequently projected several other patients who, like the previous two, had nearly the same symptoms, and the timing of their illnesses was also roughly eight to ten days prior.


    With that, the projection was turned off. Pang Dahai turned back to the crowd and spoke loudly, "You all have a general understanding of the patients'' symptoms. Now, let''s discuss and see, what are everyone''s opinions and viewpoints on this?"


    Qitian Gate was the first to speak out, "From what we''ve seen now, what Master of Pang Sect said earlier is correct; it''s almost certain that these illnesses are man-made, not natural. First, their symptoms are almost identical. Second, the timing of the infections is consistent. And third, their identities!"


    A Vice Sect Leader from the Divine Doctor Sect of the Southern River Region Jiangnan said, "I''m saying, Qitian Gate, can''t you say something useful? There''s no need to repeat the conclusions that Master of Pang Sect has already made. Are you still trying to suck up at this time? Don''t you feel like you are barking up the wrong tree?"


    Qitian Gate stopped talking and didn''t dare to retort. He had intended to curry favor and make a show, knowing full well the limits of his own medical expertise. If it came down to a fairpetition, he might never get his turn.


    Pang Dahai waved his hand and said, "Alright, Tianhai wasn''t wrong, he just didn''t hit the nail on the head. Everyone here is a top-notch divine doctor from various cities of the Divine Doctor Sect, professionally trained, most having devoted half a lifetime to the study of medicine. Let''s hear from all of you. Have you ever encountered such a disease before?"


    No one else spoke up. Pang Dahai surveyed the room, and almost no one dared to meet his gaze.


    One of them asked, "May I ask Master of Pang Sect, concerning these patients losing their vitality for no apparent reason, hasn''t thetest medical equipment been employed in the investigation by the hospital?"


    Pang Dahai answered, "Of course they''ve been examined, inside and out, including all internal organs, and even the blood has been cleansed using dialysis, but to no avail. No suspicious signs could be found. As the saying goes, ''a problem well stated is a problem half-solved,'' but now we can''t even figure out the cause, so there''s really no starting point for treatment."


    The one who had spoken fell silent, focusing inwardly.


    Therge conference room suddenly became very quiet; no one dared to speak out. Although they had a certain level of medical skill, since even the investigative equipment couldn''t find anything and even the old divine doctors of the Divine Doctor Sect of Jiangnan had no clue, they were all the more helpless.


    At this point, even Pang Dahai didn''t know what to say.


    Luo Keque could no longer contain himself, turned his head, and said in a low voice to Ye Feng, "Mr. Ye, judging from the symptoms of these few people, it seems very simr to those of Mr. Hong Zhenguo from before."


    Ye Feng nodded, "Indeed, they are very simr."


    Luo Keque asked, "Then Mr. Ye, could it be that all these people have also been afflicted by Gu and Poison?"


    Ye Feng nodded again, "Yes, but not the same type of Gu and Poison, rather a more powerful one."


    "A more powerful Gu and Poison?"


    Luo Keque stared at Ye Feng for a long while before continuing, "Mr. Ye, since this Gu and Poison is more powerful, do you think you might be able to handle it?"


    Ye Feng did not answer his question but turned to him and said, "You''re not exactly an outsider anymore. Let me ask you, if you could use the Phoenix Returns to Heaven Needle Technique, are you confident you could remove the Gu and Poison?"


    Luo Keque replied with a wry smile, "If, as Mr. Ye says, I could perform such a counter-natural Needle Technique, I would have about seventy percent confidence."


    Ye Feng smiled and said, "You have seventy percent, but I am one hundred percent confident!"


    Luo Keque was stunned again, and after a long while, he said, "Then, Mr. Ye, since you are fully confident, why don''t you go up now?"


    Ye Feng looked at him again and countered, "Don''t you think it would be more appropriate for you to go up now?"


    "I should go up, but¡­" Luo Keque was about to say something else when he suddenly realized, and a look of ecstasy spread across his face.


    "I was being dull. Thank you, Mr. Ye, for giving me the opportunity to show my face!" Luo Keque bowed in gratitude.


    Ye Feng said nothing more, as giving the other party an opportunity to show his face was only part of the reason.


    More importantly, Ye Feng simply did not want to waste his breath with the useless crowd present. If he were to go up himself, he would definitely need to exin his identity and origins. As an acting king, to exin himself to these no-hopers seemed demeaning even to think about it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Luo Keque straightened his body and said, "Then, Mr. Ye, may I proceed? After going up there, what should I say?"


    "Just tell the truth!" Ye Feng remained indifferent.


    Luo Keque did not say anything further, gathered his courage to stand up, and then walked towards the podium.


    Although the podium was not far from him, merely about ten meters away, Luo Keque felt this was the most difficult and oppressive walk of his life. Because as soon as he stood up, all eyes in the room were on him.


    Stopping two meters away from the podium, Luo Keque then said, "Master of the Pang Sect, I know the origin of this illness!"


    Not just the Master of the Pang Sect, but the other members of the Divine Doctor Sect present, and even over a dozen representatives of prominent families, all showed shock and astonishment on their faces.


    "You know the origin of this illness, who are you?" Master of Pang Sect asked.


    "I am Luo Keque, vice sect leader of the Divine Doctor Sect of Jiangdu City," Luo Keque replied with a slight bow.


    "If you say you know, then please enlighten us!" Pang Dahai waved his hand.


    Luo Keque said, "In fact, they are not suffering from ordinary illnesses, but have been poisoned!"


    "Poisoned? How is that possible? They show no signs of being poisoned!" someone in the crowd immediately expressed their doubts. Stay updated via empire


    Pang Dahai stared at him intently and asked, "Poisoned? Are you joking? Other than their bodies wasting away and vitality slipping, they show none of the typical signs that fully indicate poisoning!"


    "Their lips are not ck, the whites of their eyes have not changed, and even their blood and viscera have not turned ck. How could it be poisoning?"


    Unruffled, Luo Keque mimicked Ye Feng''s tone from earlier and articted, "If it were amon poison, indeed the poisoned would mostly have ck lips and their viscera would also be ckened. However, they are not afflicted by ordinary poison, but by Gu and Poison!"


    "Gu and Poison?" At that moment, the entire room was in shock.

 Chapter 64 The Jiang Family Reacts Violently

    Pang Dahai paused for a while before responding in a deep voice, "Gu poison? So it''s Gu poison. Now that you mention it, I do recall something." Find your next adventure on empire


    A city-level sect leader from the Divine Doctor Sect said, "It is said that the Gu&Poison Sect has a very ancient history within the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Territory, could it be, Master Pang, that this Gu poison is indeed from the Gu&Poison Sect of the Southern Territory?"


    "Exactly!"


    Pang Dahai said somberly, "Although the Gu&Poison Sect is a faction, it has many branches, especially in modern times, where its factional dynamics have be even moreplex. Furthermore, the means of the Gu&Poison Sect are said to not be limited to Gu and poison."


    Unable to restrain himself, Lord of Qi asked, "May I dare to ask Master Pang, is the ailment that Cui Yan and the other family heads contracted really Gu poison?"


    "Indeed, it is Gu poison."


    As Pang Dahai spoke, he shook his head with a sigh, "I should have thought of this earlier. I remember back when I was a young man learning medicine, my master, the previous Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect, had mentioned it to us, though I did not take it to heart."


    "It wasn''t until Deputy Sect Leader Luo mentioned it that I suddenly remembered," Pang Dahai finished speaking and turned his head to look at Luo Keque, his face showing approval.


    He hadn''t directly called Luo Keque by his name but had referred to him as Deputy Sect Leader, which was evidently a sign of respect, an acknowledgment of Luo Keque.


    Lord of Qi, seeing this, couldn''t help but frown slightly, with a hint of displeasure in his heart. After all, he was the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan, and Luo Keque was merely the Vice Sect Leader; for the spotlight to be stolen by Luo Keque, how could he be pleased?


    Liang Zhong asked in a low voice, "Lord Qi, does this old man Luo Keque truly have the skill to cure illnesses?"


    Lord of Qi replied coldly, "Don''t be hasty; just watch and wait."


    Suddenly someone asked, "May I dare to ask Master Pang, if you have recognized the Gu poison within the family heads, do you already have a treatment n?"


    Pang Dahai shook his head and said, "I''m ashamed to say that my medical skills have not reached that level, and I am unable to find a solution."


    "Even Master Pang, you don''t have a way?" Many people in the audience asked in surprise.


    Pang Dahai said with a bitter smile, "To tell you the truth, it''s not only about me. Even if my esteemed master were still alive, he wouldn''t be able topletely eliminate the Gu poison. At most, he could only dy the onset of its effects, and this was something that my master had told us firsthand."


    The crowd was once again greatly shocked, "Is Gu poison really that formidable?"


    Pang Dahai replied, "As I said before, the branches of the Gu&Poison Sect are intricate, and the Gu poisons are extremely diverse. The biggest challenge is not that they can''t be treated, but that it''s difficult to identify which type of Gu poison it is, and hence we can''t administer the right remedy!"


    Lord of Qi added, "I too have heard that there are countless types of Gu poison. If we can''t determine which exact one it is, hastily administering medicine could worsen the situation."


    Pang Dahai sighed and suddenly looked up at Luo Keque, asking, "Mr. Luo, since you''ve recognized this as Gu poison, are you able to treat it?"


    As his words fell, everyone in the room turned their gaze towards Luo Keque.


    Luo Keque found himself the center of attention for a moment and became a bit nervous, but excited at the same time¡ªespecially since Pang Dahai had just called him "Mr. Luo," which seemed to lift him high off the ground.


    Fortunately, Luo Keque did not get carried away. He shook his head and said, "I''m ashamed to say that although I''ve identified it as Gu poison, I do not have the capacity to remove it."


    Lord of Qi immediately said coldly, "Then that''s as good as nothing. What''s the use in just knowing?"


    Others who were dissatisfied with Luo Keque stealing the show also said, "Exactly, Master Pang also knows it''s Gu poison. After all is said and done, there''s still no solution!"


    Luo Keque nced at Ye Feng, then dered loudly, "Although I am incapable, I do know someone who can remove the poison!"


    "Someone can remove Gu and Poison, who?" Pang Dahai immediately asked.


    Luo Keque did not point directly at Ye Feng, for he felt that it would be disrespectful to do so. Instead, he promptly strode forward to Ye Feng, bowed slightly, and said, "It is Mr. Ye here. It was also Mr. Ye who informed me just now that the family heads have been afflicted with Gu poison."


    Almost at the same time, the gazes of several dozen people in the hall all turned towards Ye Feng.


    Ye Feng''s expression remained unchanged, sitting steadfastly in his wheelchair.


    Pang Dahai did not follow him but stood at a distance, scrutinizing Ye Feng. When he saw that the other party was a young man and, moreover, a disabled person in a wheelchair, his brows couldn''t help but furrow slightly.


    Ye Feng was likewise taking in the other party, clearly noticing the change in his expression.


    Lord of Qi nced at Luo Keque, then looked at Luo Keque again, quietly stood up, and then walked over to the Jiang Family''s seats down below.


    Over by the Jiang Family was a young man in his mid-twenties who, after hearing a few words whispered by Lord of Qi, suddenly looked grim, his gaze toward Ye Feng immediately turning fierce.


    "This Mr. Ye, may I ask your full name? Just now, Mr. Luo mentioned you can remove Gu poison, can youe over to talk?" Pang Dahai, still banking on his own stature, did not leave his seat but called out politely.


    Ye Feng slowly said, "You want me toe over there to talk? Master of Pang Sect, your legs are in good working order, so why do you note here?"


    His words were still courteous. He, the Northern Border Sovereign, was used to others seeking an audience with him, never before having anyone so bold as to demand he walk over to meet them.


    Pang Dahai frowned, his face showing signs of displeasure. After all, as the Chief Sect Leader of the Divine Doctor Sect of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, his status was the highest among those present. Personally going over to invite someone would be akin to lowering his own worth, would it not?


    So Pang Dahai remained unmoved. Seeing this, Lord of Qi secretly signaled the young man from the Jiang Family with a nce.


    The young man of the Jiang Family, Jiang Tianhu, mmed the table, sprang to his feet, and called out loudly, "Whatplete nonsense! This man in the wheelchair, this disabled man, this son-inw of the Hong Family of Jiangdu, he can cure diseases and remove Gu poison? What a joke!"


    In an instant, the whole hall was stirred, and all eyes were drawn once again to Jiang Tianhu.


    Pang Dahai hurriedly asked, "Tianhu, do you know this person?"


    "I certainly do!"


    Jiang Tianhu snorted coldly, "This man is named Ye Feng, originally the foster son of the Fu Family of Jiangdu. However, due to his arrogant and ignorant nature, he has since been driven out of the Fu Family. Now he is nothing but a worthless son-inw at the Hong Family of Jiangdu!"


    "The Hong Family of Jiangdu, that Hong Family of Jiangdu?" a representative from the Cui Family asked.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Jiang Tianhu scoffed, "That Hong Family of Jiangdu is merely a third-rate prestigious family, not even worth mentioning. And this worthless frenzied son-inw of the Hong Family, some say he can remove Gu poison? Nonsense, this frenzied son-inw, relying on the support of a Great Grandmaster behind him, has been causing trouble, beating to death my Jiang Family''s elder Jiang Youhe in cold blood.


    His actions are simply outrageous!"


    As his words fell, the room was immediately abuzz, many people''s expressions changed.


    The Jiang Family is one of the Four Great Families of Jiangnan Province, with immense power and influence. To dare to beat an elder of the Jiang Family to death, one had to wonder whether this person was extremely arrogant or foolish to the extreme.


    Seeing this unfold, Lord of Qi also stood up and said, "Master of Pang Sect, I also have something to say about this Mr. Ye Feng in the wheelchair."


    Pang Dahai turned his head and asked, "What would you like to say? Please speak freely."


    Lord of Qi directly pointed to Tang Feng and let out a chuckle, "This person, this disabled man here, his ims of being a divine doctor are utter rubbish!"

 Chapter 65 My Pang Family, Willing to Give it a Try!

    Lord Qi of Qitian Gate walked to the center of the hall with an overbearing air.


    "Gentlemen, you may not be aware that this so-called Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family ims to be a Peerless Divine Doctor, but in reality, not only has he never systematically studied any medical knowledge, he doesn''t even have a medical practice license!"


    "Do you all think that such a barefoot doctor could cure the legendary and terrifying Gu poison? How is this man any different from those quacks peddling Dog Skin like ster on the streets?"


    Pang Dahai''splexion grew increasingly stern, and he gritted his teeth and hummed, "Lord Qi, are you serious about what you just said?"


    "Of course I am serious. I have personally asked him about it, and this Frenzied Son-in-Law of the Hong Family has admitted it himself!" Lord Qi of Qitian Gate snorted coldly.


    The whole ce was suddenly abuzz with astonishment, and someone hummed, "He doesn''t even have the most basic medical qualification certificate, to say that he could remove Gu poison, I decidedly can''t believe it!"


    "Indeed, that''s too far-fetched. Tell me, Lord Qi, this manes from your Jiangdu, isn''t he one of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect?"


    "Of course not. How could such an outsider, who doesn''t even understand the basic medical knowledge, be from our Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect? Our Divine Doctor Sect gathers the world''s Divine Doctors, not just any street quack can join!"


    Lord Qi of Qitian Gate appeared righteous and proud, feeling secretly delighted in his heart, because the situation was unfolding in the direction he had steered.


    Pang Dahai asked in a cold voice, "If he is not from the Divine Doctor Sect, nor a representative of the prominent families of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, then why was he allowed to attend this meeting?"


    Immediately, Lord Qi of Qitian Gate sped his hands in apology, "Master of Pang Sect, please forgive me. I had tried to dissuade him from participating, but someone specifically rmended him, and I couldn''t stop it."


    "Who? Who rmended him?" Pang Dahai looked very angry.


    Seeing this, Luo Keque had to step forward and say, "Responding to Master of Pang Sect, it was I who rmended Mr. Ye, because he truly can..."


    But before he could finish, Pang Dahai abruptly cut him off, "Outrageous, Luo Keque, you are the Vice Sect Leader of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect, don''t you even understand the rules of the Divine Doctor Sect? How dare you bring in outsiders privately, do you really think the Divine Doctor Sect is your own backyard?"


    Luo Keque was scolded to the point of not daring to retort, and of course, he also knew that the situation had reached this point entirely because of the despicable actions of Lord Qi of Qitian Gate fanning the mes in the shadows.


    The representative of the Jiang Family, Jiang Tianhu, spoke in a cold voice, "Master of Pang Sect, this useless son-inw of the Hong Family, there''s no need to waste words on him, just kick him out directly!"


    "Guards!" Pang Dahai called out loudly, and immediately two security guards stepped forward.


    Seventeen, standing behind, watched this scene with his nerves already tense, looking prepared to take action. Of course, he also knew that his master, despite sitting in a wheelchair, was in fact an unrivaled master.


    However, Seventeen knew even more that against such minor characters, his master wouldn''t take action, because they were not even worthy of it. Hence, it was obviously up to him to step forward.


    Luo Keque quickly stepped forward, stood in the middle of the hall, and loudly said, "Gentlemen, Divine Doctor Ye truly can remove Gu and Poison. This is not a baseless im. As the Vice Sect Leader of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect, I naturally would not talk nonsense. Without substantiated facts, would I casually bring someone here to humiliate myself?"


    "Substantiated? How can this be substantiated?" someone asked.


    "Five days ago, the head of the Hong Family of Jiangdu, Hong Zhenguo, was afflicted with Gu poison. It was Mr. Ye who personally removed it. I was there at the time and saw it with my own eyes. If you don''t believe it, you can now contact Hong Zhenguo of the Hong Family to verify this matter!"


    "Is that true?" Pang Dahai narrowed his eyes and asked.


    "Indeed, it is true!" Luo Keque dered with certainty.


    Pang Dahai furrowed his brow and turned to speak, "Representatives of the noble families, does anyone among you have a good rtionship with the Hong Family of Jiangdu? If so, could you immediately contact Hong Zhenguo and verify whether what Luo Keque has said is true?"


    "A member of the Pang Family immediately spoke up, "My family has some ties with the Hong Family of Jiangdu. I''ll make a call right now!" He went on to dial the number there at the meeting, putting the call on speaker so that everyone could hear.


    The call was swiftly answered, and Hong Zhenguo''s response was exactly as Luo Keque had described, plunging the entire meeting into silence.


    Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Lord of Qi furrowed his brow and spoke to himself, "This Ye Feng is the Hong Family''s son-inw; it''s not out of the question that Hong Zhenguo might lie, is it?"


    Luo Keque immediately shouted in anger, "Lord Qi, what are you implying? In a matter as serious as human life, you dare to suggest he would lie? Besides, Hong Zhenguo is a man of status and was quite a figure at the Northern Border in his day. Would he lie?"


    Lord Qi found himself at a loss for words in the face of the usation.


    Liang Zhongughed and then said, "Even if Hong Zhenguo didn''t speak up, and even if this Mad Son-in-Law of the Hong Family cured his father-inw''s gu and poison, as Master of Pang Sect said earlier, there are too many types of gu and poison in the world. Just because this Ye fellow was able to treat Hong Zhenguo doesn''t mean he can cure the gu and poison in others, right?"


    Master of Pang Sect nodded in agreement, "There''s some sense in that. There are too many kinds of gu and poison in the world. If one doesn''t apply the right remedy, it could very well backfire!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The room fell silent once again.


    Luo Keque spoke coldly, "Since you have such distrust, why don''t we let one of the family heads here give it a try?"


    Lord Qi sneered, "Let one of the family heads try? Do you really think these family heads are guinea pigs? Ask around, who among those present would be willing to try?"


    Jiang Tianhu grumbled, "Are you joking? These family heads are all respected figures in Southern River Region Jiangnan, each with assets over a billion. Who would be so foolish?"


    A representative of the Cui Family dered, "My Cui Family certainly won''t easily agree to try!"


    "The Yan Family may not be the premier family of Southern River Region Jiangnan, but we can''t just let someone experiment on us!"


    Upon hearing this, Ye Feng slightly furrowed his brow. Human life was at stake, and he could have been forgiving of their ignorance and fussing, but now he saw that they were truly overstepping.


    At that moment, a representative of the Pang Family suddenly stood up, "My Pang Family is willing to give it a shot."


    Luo Keque was overjoyed at hearing this, "Brother Pang, this is truly wonderful."


    The Pang Family representative smiled, "Brother Luo, you and I have some ties, and I understand your character. I trust you, so please have Mr. Ye try his hand at treating."


    With that, the Pang Family representative stepped forward towards Ye Feng, then bowed respectfully in front of everyone and said, "Since it''s a trial treatment, there might be risks. Nevertheless, I can assure Mr. Ye here!"


    "Whether or not the treatment is sessful, or even if the family head''s condition worsens after treatment, as long as Mr. Ye doesn''t deliberately cause harm, my Pang Family will not me Mr. Ye. On the contrary, if the treatment is sessful, my Pang Family will be most grateful. Here is five million as a deposit; please, Mr. Ye, ept it."


    Ye Feng didn''t look at the gold card handed to him and simply smiled, "Originally, I had decided not to take action, but seeing your sincerity, I''ll agree. Where is Master of Pang Family now?"


    "He''s here in the hospital, Mr. Ye, if it is convenient for you, we can start the treatment immediately!" said the Pang Family representative.


    "Lead the way up front!" Ye Feng gestured lightly.


    "Please, Mr. Ye."

 Chapter 66 My Words are Never Repeated

    Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Ye Feng remainedposed, pushed in his wheelchair by Hong Qingyan as they left the conference room, heading towards the intensive medical care room in the back courtyard.


    Pang Dahai followed closely, together with people like Master of Qitian Gate, while representatives of the major families from Jiangnan''s Provincial City stayed in the conference room.


    "What do you think," the Yan Family representative said as he lit a cigarette, "can this so-called Mad Son-in-Law of the Hong Family really eliminate the Gu and Poison?"


    Tapping the table, the Cui Family representative coldly said with slight indifference, "That''s not something we need to be concerned about. Now that the old fellow from the Pang Family is willing to be the guinea pig, all we have to do is watch."


    The Yan Family representative nodded and said, "That''s right, Mr. Cui is correct. With someone from the Pang Family trying it out, let''s just observe. Even if that Mad Son-in-Law of the Hong Family can''t cure or remove the Gu and Poison and, in the process, kills the Master of the Pang Family, it won''t cause us any loss."


    "On the contrary, if he truly cures him, we can thene forward and ask this Mad Son-in-Law of the Hong Family to treat us without dy!"


    Suddenly, the Cui Family representative turned his head to look at Jiang Tianhu and asked, "Tianhu, you mentioned earlier that this Mr. Ye of the Hong Family brazenly killed an elder of your Jiang Family in Jiangdu, is that true?"


    "Absolutely true. Would I joke about something so serious?"


    Jiang Tianhu snorted and then, gritting his teeth, said, "Not only was my Uncle Jiang Youhe killed, but my Third Uncle Jiang Biehe was crippled by that guy, and my cousin Jiang Tianlong was even castrated by him!"


    Hiss...


    The others in the room took in a sharp breath, and the atmosphere in the conference room became somewhat strange.


    After pondering for a while, the Cui Family representative asked, "As far as I know, Mr. Jiang Biehe was one of the rare experts in your Jiang Family, a Huajin Grandmaster, and even he was crippled. That suggests this Mr. Ye of the Hong Family is no small fry!"


    As he spoke, his hands continuously tapped on the table, clearly pondering other matters.


    "This Mad Son-in-Law of the Hong Family, being a cripple with broken legs, is not to be feared," Jiang Tianhu huffed. "However, the attendant following him is a great expert, who might very well be a Master of Huajin Level!"


    The entire conference room fell silent again, with each person contemting on their own, clearly deep in thought. After all, an ordinary Master of Inner Force might not be much to them, but a Huajin Level Grandmaster was not to be underestimated.


    "Perhaps..."


    The Cui Family representative mused, "we can lure away that attendant beside him."


    The Yan Family representative immediately replied, "Exactly, with the right price, we can definitely win him over. Jiang Tianhu said it himself, that young man is just a cripple with broken legs. If we woo his attendant, it will be like defanging a tiger and he''ll pose no threat!"


    "You are all correct. When I return to my family, I''ll propose this to the elders..."


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng had already arrived at the intensive care room.


    "The intensive care room is separate," said Pang Youze, the representative of the Pang Family. "My family''s master is inside, Mr. Ye, please enter."


    Ye Feng nodded and immediately went in. He saw an old man who was skin and bones lying on the hospital bed, his life signs extremely weak, receiving an IV drip of glucose. But such a method could only slightly prolong his nourishment, and it was merely a drop in the bucket.


    Ye Feng asked, "Have you prepared the silver needles I wanted?"


    "They''ve been ready for a while now."


    Pang Youze nodded slightly and then handed over an exquisitely made sandalwood brocade box with both hands, "Here is aplete set of silver needles. Now please, Mr. Ye, proceed with your work."


    At this moment, Pang Dahai, Qitian Gate, and several other high-ranking members of the Divine Doctor Sect all walked into the ward in session.


    Ye Feng received the Brocade Box and frowned, "Who let them in? Tell them to get out!"


    Qitian Gate immediately bellowed, "Ye Feng, how dare you! Have you gone mad to actually tell us to leave?"


    Liang Zhong also snorted coldly, "How can you be so presumptuous in front of Master Pang? Do you really think you are a Peerless Divine Doctor?"


    Pang Dahai let out a coldugh, "Mr. Ye, aren''t you going a bit too far? After all, we are also veterans, having devoted our lives to studying medical expertise. Having us present might prove somewhat helpful to Mr. Ye at the very least!"


    "Moreover, in case any errors or mistakes ur during the treatment, at least we can step forward timely to testify. This way, the treatment for Master Pang may have an additionalyer of security!"


    Ye Feng turned to look at them, "If you had humbly sought my advice earlier, perhaps I might have given you the opportunity to learn through observation. But now..."


    Pang Dahaiughed loudly, "Learn through observation? Perhaps Mr. Ye does not find his own tone too confident!"


    Ye Feng''s expression became stern, "I never repeat myself!"


    Luo Keque, seeing the situation unfold, promptly tugged at Pang Youze''s sleeve.


    Pang Youze came to his senses and hurriedly stepped forward with a sped fist, "Master Pang and esteemed Divine Doctors, perhaps Mr.Ye finds it inconvenient when performing his needling technique, or maybe there are family secrets not meant for public knowledge, so I kindly ask everyone to step back for the time being."


    Qitian Gate spoke with a cold voice, "Mr. Pang, as Master Pang just said, if we are present, we can bring up any errors that may arise timely."


    Pang Youzeughed lightly, "Thank you for your kind intentions, but I respect Mr. Ye''s wishes, and even if there are any idents with the family head, my Pang Family will not me or resent anyone."


    Qitian Gate wanted to say something more, but was stopped by Pang Dahai.


    "Very well then, Pang Youze, if this so-called Divine Doctor Ye can cure Master Pang, then all the better. Conversely, if he ends up killing him, then it''s not like we didn''t warn beforehand. Let''s go!"


    With a cold snort, Pang Dahai gestured grandly with his hand and immediately left the ICU. As the Sect Master of Jiangnan Provincial City''s Divine Doctor Sect, his status was extremely noble. Having been asked to leave, he couldn''t cling shamelessly to stay; wouldn''t that mean losing face?


    Soon the door to the ward closed, Ye Feng casually flicked open the Brocade Box and instructed Pang Youze to help the old man on the bed to sit up.


    Ever since his breakthrough to the Martial King Realm, Ye Feng found administering acupuncture much easier. It was no longer as strenuous as the time he treated Hong Zhenguo, and he inserted over twenty silver needles rapidly, the speed of his needling being extremely fast.


    He then began to use his Inner Strength, invoking the Phoenix Returns to Heaven Formation Technique. Soon, the entire ward was filled with a humming sound, as if a phoenix was singing.


    Although Luo Keque was mentally prepared, he was still incredibly excited. Throughout, he kept his eyes wide open, afraid to miss any detail, and had even reviewed the human acupoints in the past few days. Now, hemitted all the needling acupoints to memory.


    However, deep down Luo Keque still felt powerless because even though he remembered all the needling acupoints, he couldn''t perform the Rejuvenating Needle Technique of the Ancient Phoenix. Firstly, because he wasn''t a Huajin Grandmaster.


    Secondly, even if he reached the Huajin Grandmaster level, he wouldn''t know how much Inner Strength to use for each point; after all, the strength needed for each acupoint was different, not to mention the sequence of their execution. Unless Ye Feng was willing to teach him, he couldn''t possibly learn by just watching; at best, he could only grasp a general idea.


    "Done, the Gu and Poison have been removed!"


    Suddenly, Ye Feng made a sweeping gesture with his Great Hand, directly collecting the extracted poison and cing it into a pre-prepared sealed bottle.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "It''s done, just like that?" Pang Youze was still in a daze, as it was only a matter of a few minutes from start to finish.

 Chapter 67 Just state your conditions.

    Compared to thest time he removed poison for Hong Zhengguo, Ye Feng found this time to be much easier.


    After all, having seeded in opening the first acupoint and achieving the Martial King Realm, his inner strength was far superior to what it had been before.


    "Luo Keque, the following matters will be handed over to you to exin to this Mr. Pang," Ye Feng said.


    Luo Keque immediately nodded and replied, "Yes, Mr. Ye, I can take care of these trivial matters!"


    After finishing, he turned to Pang Youze and gave some instructions on how to recuperate and what to pay attention to.


    It was not until this moment that Pang Youze came back to his senses from the shock. Without a word, he walked straight to Ye Feng intending to kneel in gratitude.


    Ye Feng waved his hand and said, "Alright, enough with the pleasantries, I only extended my help because I saw that you had a good character."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    With those words, Ye Feng, pushed by Hong Qingyan in his wheelchair, left the sickroom.


    Outside the sickroom, Pang Dahai and Qitian Gate''s other Divine Doctor Sect high-ranking members were waiting. Upon seeing peopleing out, they immediately went forward and asked, "How is it, does this surnamed Ye really have a way to remove the Gu and poison from Master Pang''s body?"


    "It''s been removed. The Gu and poison inside my brother''s body have beenpletely eliminated by Mr. Ye. We owe him a great debt, his life has been saved!"


    Pang Youze stepped forward to exin, his tone filled with emotion.


    "Really cured? Truly cured? Pang Youze, are you not lying?" asked a high-ranking member of the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan.


    "Of course, it''s true. Why would I lie about such a matter? Besides, if you don''t believe it, you are wee to go in and see for yourselves. Just one look and you''ll know!"


    Possibly out of high spirits, Pang Youze couldn''t help but add, "My brother''s health is much better than before, and even hisplexion has some color back. He''s no longer as pale and emaciated as he was."


    "Is it really that miraculous? In such a short time, you managed to remove the mysterious Gu and poison?"


    The Divine Doctor Sect high-ranking members were skeptical, and immediately, two of them quickly entered the room to investigate. They soon came back out.


    Pang Dahai asked in a deep voice, "Well?"


    "It''s just as Pang Youze said, it seems that Master Pang''s Gu and Poison have truly been removed!"


    "It''s actually true. In that case, this Mr. Ye is indeed a peerless divine doctor?"


    At that time, the way everyone looked at Ye Feng hadpletely changed. There was admiration, as well as incredulity.


    Members like Qitian Gate''s Liang Zhong were secretly regretting. If they had known that he possessed peerless medical skills, they would have formed a good rtionship with him earlier in the morning, but now it was obviously toote to make a good impression.


    Pang Dahai pondered for a moment and then sped his hands in salute, "It seems I was short-sighted before. Mr. Ye, though young, indeed possesses extraordinary medical skills. Previously, I offended you out of ignorance, I hope Mr. Ye won''t take it to heart!"


    Even as he spoke these words, his attitude wasckluster, without a hint of an apology. Pang Dahai, after all, was the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan, with a status so revered and exalted. To really offer an apology would be to lower his dignity, which he could scarcely afford to do.


    Ye Feng smiled faintly and said, "There''s no need, it doesn''t matter to me."


    "Doesn''t matter?"


    Pang Dahai raised his grey eyebrows and asked in return, "What do you mean by ''it doesn''t matter'', Mr. Ye?"


    Ye Feng calmly replied, "From the beginning to the end, I never took you to heart, nor have you ever caught my eye. Thus, this apology, naturally, does not matter to me."


    Pang Dahai froze on the spot, his face gradually darkening as anger seeped through his entire being.


    "Mr. Ye, that''s quite the bold im. You don''t honestly think you''re a Peerless Divine Doctor just because you can remove Gu and poison, do you?"


    Truth be told, at this moment, Pang Dahai felt more jealousy and dissatisfaction than anger. After all, he was the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan and the authoritative representative of the entire medicalmunity in the Jiangnan Province. How could he not be upset when a nobody had seeded in curing a poison that even he couldn''t handle?


    The members of the Divine Doctor Sect present only watched in silence, not daring to speak up at such a time.


    Ye Feng did not argue further, but simply pushed his wheelchair forward and moved on.


    Honestly, Ye Feng was disappointed. He had thought that this so-called Sect Master of the Southern River Region Jiangnan''s Divine Doctor Sect might be someone of significance.


    When he had learned that the other was a Master of Inner Force, Ye Feng had even considered imparting the Phoenix Returns to Heaven Needle Technique to him. But now it seemed that Pang Dahai was truly unworthy; whether it was his small-mindedness or hisck of generosity, he wascking.


    Qitian Gate could not help but secretly gloat over this cmity. He had been worried that this Ye fellow, revealing his miraculous medical skills, would be taken seriously by the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan, and even that Luo Keque might be promoted to rece him as the Sect Master of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect due to this.


    But now it seemed that his worries had beenpletely unnecessary!


    "Master Pang, if you ask me, this Ye fellow is really too presumptuous,pletely ignoring even you," Qitian Gate sidled over and fanned the mes. "No wonder quite a few people in Jiangdu call him the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family!"


    Pang Dahai narrowed his eyes and hummed with a heavy voice, "Even if he has some medical skills, even if he can remove the Gu and poison, so what? In the medicalmunity of the Jiangnan Province, I''m still the one who calls the shots. If he wants to make a name for himself in Jiangnan''s medical circles without my approval, he''s deluding himself!"


    A member of the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan spoke up, "But Sect Master, now several heads of the great families have been hit with Gu and poison. Next, the Cui and Yan families will surely ask this young man for help. By then, he will surely gain renown in the upper echelons of Jiangnan..."


    "You need not worry about that!"


    Pang Dahai waved his hand slightly, "Even if he makes connections with the Cui, Yan, and other wealthy families, did you not hear what Jiang Tianhu said just now? This youngster killed an elder of the Jiang Family; they will certainly not let him off. By then, with our Sect Master''s assistance, the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan will also cause trouble for him.


    Just wait and watch!"


    Upon hearing this, Qitian Gate''s heart settled, and he gave a thumbs-up, "Master Pang is wise..."


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng had already turned the corner in the corridor, preparing to leave. Just then, from the direction of the left turn, representatives of the Cui Family, Yan Family, and a few other major families rushed toward him hurriedly.


    It seemed these family representatives had heard that Ye Feng could remove the Gu and poison and had rushed over in haste.


    "Mr. Ye, please wait, Mr. Ye, stay a moment!"


    "Divine Doctor Ye, please don''t go. We beg you to save our Head of the Yan Family!"


    Ye Feng''s wheelchair was no match for their speed, and he was quickly caught up to and blocked.


    "Mr. Ye, since you''ve alreadypleted a trial needle for Master Pang and proven that you really can remove the Gu and poison, why the hurry to leave?"


    Ye Feng responded indifferently, "Since Master Pang''s illness has been cured, why should I stay any longer?"


    The representatives of the Cui and other families immediately made a respectful gesture, "Mr. Ye, it wasn''t that we didn''t believe you before. It''s just that we had never seen you in action, and we apologize for any offense. We beg your forgiveness and ask you to help us with treatment."


    Ye Feng said sternly, "And why should I help you?"


    The representative of the Cui Family was taken aback, then quickly said, "Well, Mr. Ye, as long as you cure our Head of the Cui Family, name your conditions. We''ll pay you directly if you want. Is ten million enough, or maybe twenty million, or even fifty million? Just name your price!"


    At this, Ye Fengughed.

 Chapter 68 You Wont Die If You Dont Seek Death

    ```


    Upon seeing Ye Fengugh, the representative from the Cui Family spoke in a grave voice, "If fifty million isn''t enough, then let it be one billion. As long as you can cure our family head, one billion will be yours. This is a fifty million down payment!"


    ```


    ```


    As he spoke, the representative from the Cui Family pulled out a gold card and handed it over rather generously.


    ```


    ```


    Ye Feng didn''t reach out to take it; he didn''t even nce at it.


    ```


    ```


    The representative from the Yan Family, seeing this, spoke out sharply, "One billion, are you still not satisfied? To ask for so much is rather exorbitant, isn''t it? One billion is no small sum, enough for you to live a life of luxury for a lifetime!"


    ```


    ```


    Ye Feng looked at him and said word by word, "Don''t talk about one billion, even if you ced your entire family''s wealth before me, I wouldn''t give it a second nce."


    ```


    ```


    "What exactly do you want then?" the Cui Family representative became angry.


    ```


    ```


    He was, after all, the Deputy Family Head of the Cui Family, and within the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, the family was one of the Four Great Families with immense power.


    When had they ever needed to demean themselves by pleading with someone like this, even Pang Dahai, the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan, would have to be polite in the presence of the Cui Family''s upper echelon!


    ```


    ```


    Ye Feng did not answer the question but instead pointed at Pang Youze next to him, "Do you know why I only saved the Pang Family and refuse to help the rest of you?"


    ```


    ```


    The representative from the Yan Family immediately asked, "Why?"


    ```


    ```


    "Because of attitude!" Ye Feng dered with a cold voice, "Do you really think that in this world, with money, you can do whatever you want? All of you get lost and don''t block my way!"


    ```


    ```


    The countenance of the Cui Family representative suddenly darkened, and he clenched his fists as if he was about to erupt, but in a blink of an eye, he managed to suppress his anger.


    ```


    ```


    "Mister Ye, it is truly fitting that you are known as the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family. You were wild enough in Jiangdu, but I never expected you to be this arrogant upon arriving in our Southern River Region!" The Cui Family representative suddenly sneered, "Mister Ye, I am aware that you hold a grudge against the Jiang Family.


    How about this, if you are willing to treat our family head, I promise here and now to mediate with the Jiang Family on your behalf and ensure they no longer trouble you. What do you say?"


    ```


    ```


    Ye Feng still didn''t even spare him a nce. In his eyes, these so-called great families of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, weren''t worth a damn.


    ```


    ```


    "A good dog doesn''t stand in the way. I''ve said before, I never repeat myself!" Ye Feng''s gaze was like a de, and his aura was fiercely intimidating.


    ```


    ```


    The representatives of the several great families were taken aback and promptly retreated to the side.


    ```


    ```


    "This is preposterous, absolutely preposterous!" The Cui Family representative was so angry he gnashed his teeth.


    ```


    ```


    "This Ye kid is truly arrogant to the extreme. No wonder the people of Jiangdu call him the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family¡ªthe reputation is well-deserved!"


    ```


    ```


    "This kid, he doesn''t take us seriously at all, offending the few great families of the Southern River Region in one go. Does he still want to get by in the Southern River Region?"


    ```


    ```


    Representatives of the several great families berated him in cold voices, their bodies trembling with rage.


    ```


    ```


    Seeing this scene, Qitian Gate hastily went over to Jiang Tianhu and whispered, "Young Master Jiang, can we really just let this cripple walk away like this?"


    ```


    ```


    Jiang Tianhu suddenly came to his senses and immediately shouted, "Ye! Stop right there!"


    ```


    ```


    Ye Feng stopped abruptly, but he didn''t turn around, just stood there.


    ```


    ```


    Jiang Tianhu walked up to him, came face to face, and pointing at Ye Feng''s nose, he enunciated, "You killed an Elder of the Jiang Family and think you can just walk away like this? If you leave today, how can I, Jiang Tianhu, ever establish a footing in the Southern River Region?"


    ```


    ```


    Ye Feng stared back coldly and asked, "And what if I don''t leave, what will you do?"


    ```


    ```n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What will I do?" Jiang Tianhu sneered twice and said, "I order you now to treat these family heads immediately, then personally go to the Jiang Family to apologize. Perhaps, in consideration of the other families here, we might be kind enough to leave you a whole corpse!"


    ```


    ```


    A smirk tugged at the corner of Ye Feng''s mouth as he taunted, "Do you know how your cousin, Jiang Tianlong, broke his fingers?"


    ```


    Jiang Tianhu''s eyebrows twitched as he demanded, "Wasn''t that done by you, kid?"


    Ye Feng shook his head with a sigh and said, "He did to me exactly what you just did, using his finger to point at my head!"


    "Seventeen, shatter one of his yellow teeth and break his four limbs!"


    As soon as Ye Feng finished speaking, Seventeen behind him sprang into action, pouncing forward like a ferocious tiger, whipping up a gale along the long corridor.


    Although Jiang Tianhu was also a martial arts practitioner and confident in his abilities, he was utterly incapable of even reacting to the onrushing tiger before him.


    Boom!


    Jiang Tianhu''s mouth took a heavy punch, his teeth were knocked out, and he immediately reeled backward.


    With a reach of Seventeen''srge hand, which toyed with him like a puppet on strings, Jiang Tianhu''s limbs were broken, and hey on the ground, whining helplessly like a dead dog.


    The representatives of the severalrge families behind were so frightened that they turned pale, standing still, not even daring to breathe heavily.


    With a slight wave of his hand from Ye Feng, Hong Qingyan began to push the wheelchair calmly along the end of the corridor, followed by Seventeen at an unhurried pace.


    It wasn''t until the three''s figurespletely vanished down the corridor that the crowd finally let out a long sigh of relief.


    "This Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, he actually... actually dared to cripple the Second Young Master of the Jiang Family!" the representative of the Cui Family said in a grave tone.


    The representative of the Yan Family huffed, "The boy is truly arrogant, but at the moment, only he can cure the illness of our family heads. What shall we do?"


    A representative of a second-rate family said, "This kid dares to be arrogant solely because he''s backed by a Great Grandmaster. But he''s just one man; surely, our mighty families aren''t afraid of him, are we?"


    "If you ask me, since this kid is so arrogant and impertinent, why don''t we just take action and capture him? We can torture him for a while. Let''s see if he still dares to be so brazen in front of us!"


    Qitian Gate couldn''t help but chuckle secretly at this, originally worried that Ye Feng would intervene to heal the heads of therge families, thereby forging connections with the families of Southern River Region Jiangnan, and Luo Keque, relying on his rtionship with Ye Feng, would certainly rece him as the Sect Master of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect.


    But now it seemed that things were unexpectedly working out to his delight.


    "If you don''t seek death, you won''t die. Ye, you''vepletely offended the great families of Southern River Region Jiangnan. Now you''re doomed!" Qitian Gate sneered to himself.


    Pang Dahai suddenly stepped forward, "Representatives, there''s really no need for this. If you act rashly, you might very well kill the boy by ident. I, however, have a cunning n."


    "What clever n do you have? Speak quickly!"


    "It''s actually quite simple. This Ye has openly crippled the Second Young Master of the Jiang Family in Southern River Region Jiangnan and also killed an Elder of the Jiang Family. If we report these matters to the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, they certainly won''t stand by and do nothing!"


    "Indeed, if the Martial Alliance takes action, there will be more assurance, and it will be more justifiable."


    "Of course!"


    Pang Dahai smiled and then continued, "I won''t hide this from you, five years ago, our Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan lost a precious Medical Acupuncture Technique. At that time, my mentor mentioned that this lost Needle Technique couldpletely eradicate Gu and Poison."


    "Does that mean this kid might have stolen the Needle Technique from the Divine Doctor Sect?" the representative of the Cui Family asked.


    Pang Dahai huffed, "I cannot be certain for now, which is why we must ask the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan to intervene and demand that the boy hand over the Technique. Once I see it, I''ll know if it''s the one my Divine Doctor Sect lost."


    It turned out that this sly old man, by bringing the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan into the picture, was eyeing Ye Feng''s Rejuvenating Needle Technique of the Ancient Phoenix.


    It had to be said that Pang Dahai was not only narrow-minded and petty but also shameless beyond the ordinary.

 Chapter 69 The Legendary Eye Opening

    ```


    Leaving the number one hospital in Jiangnan, night had already fallen.


    The streets were bustling with traffic and brightly lit by thousands of homes, all of which highlighted the prosperity of this first-tier city in the heart of the country.


    Pang Youze hurried forward and said, "Mr. Ye is not from our Southern River Region Jiangnan, and it is your first time here, so you are unfamiliar with this ce. If you don''t mind, I can arrange amodation for you. You cured the master of my family, and I still don''t know how to thank you."


    Ye Feng, however, turned his head to look at him and said, "Now I have offended most of the powerful families in Jiangnan. Aren''t you afraid they will retaliate against you for being close to me?"


    Pang Youzeughed and said, "Mr. Ye you must be joking. Although the Pang Family is not a top-level noble n in Jiangnan, we are not ungrateful. You have shown favor to my Pang Family, and I will repay that. As for the others, I won''t bother myself so much with them."


    Ye Feng nodded and said, "Good!"


    Although it was just a single word, Pang Youze and Luo Keque did not know how rare it was to receive praise from the Northern Border King.


    "My Pang Family has a vi by the South River banks, it''s tranquil and the environment is elegant. If Mr. Ye has no objections, you can stay there temporarily. Of course, if Mr. Ye likes the vi, it will be given to you as a gift."


    "There''s no need for a gift, just lead the way!" Ye Feng waved his hand.


    Pang Youze didn''t say anything more, after all, the person beside him was someone who didn''t even consider a hundred million to be important. If he wanted, by saving a few n leaders, he could amass a fortune in an instant.


    However, all these things seemed beneath the dignity of Mr. Ye, as if wealth was like dung to him.


    Carrying a heart full of curiosity, Pang Youze got into the car and led the way.


    Ye Feng entered the vehicle and then closed his eyes to ponder slowly.


    His decision to not save Cui Yan and the other n leaders was not because Ye Fengcked the medical ethics of saving lives and helping the injured. He had firmly refused for two reasons: one was because of the attitude of those n representatives, and the second was an even more important reason.


    Up to now, Ye Feng had dared to determine that the involvement of Gu and Poison within several n leaders of Jiangnan was definitely the work of the Gu&Poison Sect from the shadows of Southern Border, and the Sect''s actions were most likely an attempt to control these powerful families.


    "Ever since the King of the Southern Territory fell seriously ill and went into secluded cultivation three years ago, the Southern Territory appeared united but was actually fragmented. The greatmanders governed independently, leading to the soldiers bing loose andzy.


    The Gu&Poison Sect took advantage of this, surfacing from the shadows, and even stretched their hands into the secr cities!"


    Ye Feng snorted coldly in his heart.


    Since the Gu&Poison Sect wanted to control the n leaders and seize control of their assets, thereby continuously providing wealth to their backers, if Ye Feng had healed these leaders today, then the Sect would have lost their leverage.


    It might even have caused the Gu&Poison Sect to go back into hiding, making it difficult to find them again as their stronghold was nestled within the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Border, an area filled with dense primeval forests and endless mountain ranges that were hard to navigate without a local guide.


    "Curing the Pang Family today was indeed like startling the snake in the grass, but it also served to lure the snake out of its hole. I believe it won''t be long before someone from the Gu&Poison Sect can''t stay hidden and jumps out!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ye Feng rubbed his forehead. Although he was the Northern Border King and should not interfere with the affairs of the Southern Territory, he had no choice but to take action now that the King of the Southern Territory was gravely injured and in secluded cultivation.


    The car proceeded slowly along the South River banks, and soon they arrived at a viplex in the suburbs.


    "Mr. Ye, we have arrived!" Pang Youze got out of the car first and hurried over to open the door.


    Ye Feng nodded, then got out of the car and entered the vi.


    Pang Youze and Luo Keque did not enter the hall but stood in the courtyard and said, "It is alreadyte at night, and Mr. Ye has been through a tiring journey today. Please rest early. If Mr. Ye would honor us with your presence, how would it be if I hosted a banquet tomorrow to wee and clean the dust off your journey?"


    Ye Feng nodded, "Thank you for the courtesy!"


    ```


    Pang Youze and Luo Keque bowed their hands to one another and then exited the courtyard.


    As soon as they entered the car, Pang Youze couldn''t help but ask, "Keque, quickly tell me, this Mr. Ye you brought, who exactly is he?"


    Luo Keque replied with a wry smile, "Although I brought him here, I actually don''t know the details of his background."


    "You don''t know either, so how did youe to know him?"


    Luo Keque then recounted the events that had urred in Jiangdu.


    After listening, Pang Youze eximed, "By the sound of it, this Mr. Ye really is audacious indeed, truly worthy of being called the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family!"


    Pang Youze thought for a moment and then asked, "What do you think his background is? You''ve known him for some time now, can you really not tell, have you not found out?"


    "I can''t find out; I won''t hide the fact from you that I have some connections in the Imperial city as well, and I''ve asked around using them, but nothing came out!"


    Luo Keque shook his head and pondered, "At first, I thought he was a young man from a Noble n in the Imperial city, but that didn''t seem right. Then I thought he might be a descendant from the higher echelons of the Imperial Divine Medical Sect, but after inquiries, he wasn''t!"


    "That''s really strange, a man in his early twenties with such extraordinary medical skills, and with a Great Grandmaster as his follower. What''s more crucial is his temperament; his aura is very unique, overwhelmingly domineering and powerful. I truly have no clue about his origins." Pang Youze''s brows were tightly furrowed.


    After some thought, Luo Keque spoke seriously, "He once told me that as long as one always possesses a benevolent heart and sufficient medical skills, let alone the position of the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan, even the seat of the Chief Sect Leader of the Imperial Divine Medical Sect, he could let me take it!"


    "Is that true?" Pang Youze''s eyes brightened.


    "Of course it''s true! Therefore, Mr. Ye''s background is undoubtedly extraordinary; he might just be the greatest benefactor we will ever meet in our lifetime. If we follow him closely, the future will be bright!"


    "Yes, moving forward we''ll see if the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan will be able to subdue him. If even they can''t touch him, then that really would be¡­"


    The two ended their conversation here, evidently, they already had a n in mind and knew what was next to do.


    At this very moment, Ye Feng was sitting cross-legged on a bed in one of the vi''s bedrooms.


    Even though he had now opened his first Acupoint and achieved the rank of Martial King, he still had no intention of ceasing his cultivation.


    On the path of Martial Dao, being a Martial King was merely the beginning. There are a total of ny-nine Acupoints to be opened!


    With each of the body''s eighty-one Acupoints that one broke through, the internal Qi Force grew more solid and powerful, and naturally, so did thebat power.


    Ye Feng closed his eyes, his hands resting on his thighs, forming a strange Dharma Seal, and his breathing became rhythmic as he quickly entered a process of the Breathing Technique.


    Under his deliberate guidance, the Qi Force within his body circted through his meridians, performing a Zhou Tian cycle, and then some barely perceptible Qi Force entered his eyes.


    Now that the Eye Acupoint was open, as the Qi Force entered, Ye Feng suddenly felt a unique sensation.


    Even though his eyes were closed, he had the feeling he could see the outside world. He could actually see the surroundings within a five-meter radius, although it was hazy, he could make out the general scene clearly.


    "What is this..."


    Ye Feng was astonished in his heart and then sighed aloud, "Could it be... is this what is said to be the ''opening of the eyes'' in the legends?"

 Chapter 70 The Strange Ghost Dao Sect

    ```


    The concept of "opening the eye," as Ye Feng once saw in ancient books, describes how a martial artist, during the cultivation process, could either achieve it through a serendipitous enlightenment or by sheer coincidence.


    "ording to ancient records, there are many kinds of ''eye-opening,'' including the opening of the naked eye, spirit eye, wisdom eye, and Dharma eye, among others. However, I still don''t know which type I have opened this time," Ye Feng contemted.


    Based on the current situation of his eye-opening, it seemed that he had opened what was considered the lowest level, the naked eye.


    As the saying goes, the naked eye is mortal. In thisplex world, it is estimated that what the human naked eye can see is but a small part of the entire world.


    For instance, various rays that require instruments to detect cannot be seen by the naked eye, yet after one opens the eye, many sights invisible to the naked eye be observable.


    For example, now Ye Feng, upon channeling his inner strength into the eye acupoint, could open his eye. Then, the world would appear as a white expanse, allowing him to see through the surface of nts to their roots and through human bodies to their bones.


    "To see through the surface of things and perceive their essence is indeed the function of opening the naked eye!" Ye Feng silently marveled.


    Before he was injured, he had encountered several true Martial Kings. These Martial Kings had opened different numbers of acupoints in their bodies but he had never heard of them opening the eye acupoint to gain sight beyond the mortal.


    "It seems that this was indeed a lucky coincidence for me!"


    Ye Feng inwardly sighed, feeling fortunate that since his injury six months ago, not only had his cultivation progressed rapidly, but he had also, by chance, opened his naked eye.


    It appeared that a great misfortune could indeed bring an unexpected blessing.


    However, at that moment, Ye Feng furrowed his brows and his expression grew stern.


    Through the wall, he suddenly saw a ck figure, ghostly as a specter, drifting in from outside.


    "What is this?" Ye Feng was shocked.


    The entity was so light, its movement technique was beyondprehension, even surpassing the lightness that Ye Feng could achieve after attaining the status of a generation''s Martial King.


    Without changing his expression, Ye Feng slowlyy down, breathing evenly, simting the state of deep sleep, yet he kept his naked eye open.


    This ghostly entity slipped through the gap in the window, surprising Ye Feng with its ability to contract and expand at will, defying all logic.


    The shadow moved silently into the room with a twisting, uncertain form, appearing to be quite elusive.


    "Hehe, such vigorous Qi-Blood. Using thisd to nourish my treasure; it might mature in a mere half a month, or even reach a great aplishment!"


    The shadow gave a series of coldughs, making the temperature in the air drop, turning cold and gloomy.


    Without a sound, the shadow approached Ye Feng and then pulled out a chilling dagger, stabbing straight towards Ye Feng''s chest.


    However, the dagger stopped mid-air, not because the shadow had a sudden change of heart, but because the dagger was now pinched tight.


    Ye Feng''s right hand shot out lightning-fast, and with his index and middle fingers he firmly caught the dagger, preventing it from advancing even a millimeter further.


    "You..." The shadow gasped in shock, though its lips did not move.


    To be precise, the entity didn''t have a mouth, just a vague impression of lips¡ªeven the contours of its face were indistinct.


    "How is it possible, that you can see me? How can this be..." The shadow''s blurry face showed an expression of astonishment.


    "For someone to see me, they must not only be a Martial King who has opened their eye acupoint but also a unique warrior with special sight. Could it be that you..."


    The shadow eximed in horror, its face filled with disbelief. ording to the intelligence it had, the opponent was at best a Huajin Grandmaster, not even a Martial King, much less one with the opened eye of an exceptional warrior.


    ```


    "Escape... quickly escape, thisd is a Martial King, beyond my match..."


    The shadow swiftly came to his senses and, abandoning his dagger, bolted in disarray.


    "Escape? Can you escape the palm of my hand?"


    Ye Feng let out a cold snort, as his Great Hand reached out, his palm brimming with surging Qi Force.


    The Qi Force suddenly transformed into ropes, instantly entangling the shadow.


    "Inner Strength that is mystical and ever-changing, truly befitting of a Martial King!"


    The shadow cackled madly as his body suddenly emitted a puff of ck smoke and, with a whoosh, moved in front of the window.


    Ye Feng was startled, having not anticipated that his opponent would have such a trick up his sleeve ¡ª a Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell maneuver, which had shrugged off the binds of his Inner Strength ropes.


    "Die!" Ye Feng pped with his right palm, and a torrent of Qi Force burst forth, instantly scattering the wisp of ck smoke.


    But the overwhelming palm strike also shattered the window, and the scattered ck smoke hurriedly took the chance to escape through it.


    Ye Feng leapt like a Golden-winged Roc,nding outside the window in a sh, but by that time, the wisp of ck smoke had already vanished without a trace.


    "Unexpectedly, he escaped right under my watch. Such techniques, truly ghostly and evasive like a specter!"


    Ye Feng sighed inwardly and the next moment, he returned to his bedroom. He crouched slightly and picked up a piece of yellow paper from the ground.


    The yellow paper was densely inscribed with blood-red talismans, resembling bizarre, unsettling sigils.


    After one nce, Ye Feng''s gaze immediately sharpened: "Is this... the rumored Art of Talisman Spell from the Ghost Dao Sect?"


    As the Northern Border King, Ye Feng had had ess to numerous secret scrolls within the country, and there were some records about the Ghost Dao Sect, though not many.


    It was rumored that the main base of the Ghost Dao Secty in the Western Territory, skilled in using talisman curse techniques, exceedingly strange, and even more mysterious than the Gu&Poison Sect.


    For instance, the shadow that had attempted to assassinate Ye Feng had utilized the yellow talisman in his hand, infusing it with Curse Incantation Secret Techniques and the essence blood and shadowy soul of the caster, eventually conjuring a semi-tangible shadow figure.


    No wonder the shadow earlier could sneak in so lightly and even lurk through the slit of the window; it seems only such a semi-tangible talismanic shadow could achieve that.


    "The Ghost Dao Sect''s lineage has nearly vanished to this day; how did it suddenly appear in Jiangnan, even orchestrating an assassination against me?"


    Ye Feng''s eyebrows shot up, and he suddenly thought of the Mountain Eagle organization, but he shook his head almost immediately, dismissing the thought; although Mountain Eagle was an assassin organization, it was unlikely they had connections to the Ghost Dao Sect at this level.


    "Could it be the Jiang Family of Southern River Region Jiangnan, or the Gu&Poison Sect, or perhaps those Aristocratic n Gates in the imperial capital?" Ye Feng pondered.


    However, since he could not figure it out, he did not bother to dwell on it further. As the saying goes, "The boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge," he would just leave it for a future investigation. For now, the priority was to root out the Gu&Poison Sect.


    Suddenly, Seventeen arrived outside the door and called out, "My lord, did you hear strange noises just now? Was there an assassin?"


    Ye Feng responded, "It''s nothing, just some shortsighted riffraff. You go back and rest."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Yes!" Seventeen replied and withdrew.


    After a half night''s cultivation, Ye Feng was also somewhat tired, especially his eyes, which after being used for a long time, felt a slight soreness, so he soon fell asleep.

 Chapter 71 Are You That Ye Feng?

    The night passed without incident, and early the next morning, Pang Youze, apanied by Luo Keque, came to the door, expressing their intention to invite Ye Feng out for morning tea.


    "Mr. Ye, I received a phone call from the hospital this morning, indicating that our family head is now out of danger. Your life-saving grace will never be forgotten by the Pang Family!"


    Having said this, Pang Youze deeply bowed.


    Ye Feng, seated in his wheelchair, waved his hand and said, "There''s no need for further pleasantries. Just lead the way."


    "As you wish, Mr. Ye!" Pang Youze could hardly contain his joy.


    He had been unable to sleep the previous night, fretting over the matter, and had suddenly realized that to insist on bestowing gold and silver treasures upon such an extraordinary person would be to fall into clich¨¦, especially since, regardless of the price offered by the Cui Yan family and others the day before, the man had not shown the slightest inclination to ept.


    So Pang Youze understood that to move and befriend such a person, it was best to start with basic human kindness and a heartfelt approach.


    Therefore, he had arrived early in the morning to invite him for morning tea, and indeed, just as he had surmised, Mr. Ye had not declined!


    Ye Feng was just about to get into the car, when a ck limited-edition luxury vehicle suddenly sped towards them, and screeched to a halt with the piercing sound of rubber tires grinding against the pavement.


    Two men in tight-fitting clothes leaped from the car before it had evene to aplete stop, showing agility and nimbleness that clearly marked them as martial arts practitioners.


    Thest person to emerge, d in opulent attire and corpulent in size, appeared to be what the secr world would term a middle-aged sessful businessman.


    This middle-aged man alighted from the vehicle, straightened his impable suit, cleared his throat, then called out loudly, "Is the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family of Jiangdu here?"


    When Pang Youze recognized the neer, he eximed in surprise, "It turns out to be Second Master Jiang of the Jiang Family, what an honor to meet you."


    "Pang Youze, since you''re here, it seems that the crippled boy called Ye Feng must also be here, right?"


    Second Master Jiang of the Jiangnan Province Jiang Family huffed, scanned the crowd, and his gaze suddenly locked onto Ye Feng, "Are you that Ye Feng?"


    Ye Feng remained unmoved in his wheelchair, as steady as a mountain, and simply responded, "And who might you be?"


    Second Master Jiang sneered, "Who I am is not important. What''s important is them two!"


    It was then that Ye Feng shifted his gaze to the two tight-clothed men; they were not particrly old, possibly in their early thirties, yet they emanated an exceedingly sharp andpelling air.


    Ye Feng was no stranger to that kind of demeanor, for it was indicative of the expert fighters typically cultivated by the Martial Alliance, which he himself had established.


    "Members of the Martial Alliance of the Southern River Region Jiangnan?" Ye Feng said with a faint smile.


    "Your insight is keen indeed, to recognize our origins at a nce," the two men replied solemnly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Ye Feng smiled faintly; not only had he discerned their origins, but with his perception heightened, he could see clearly that their strength was at the peak of the Ninth Stage of External Strength, just one step shy of bing Masters of Inner Force.


    Of course, taking that step and ascending to genuinely be a Grandmaster, though only a step away, was by no means an easy feat!


    Pang Youze eximed, "Members of the Martial Alliance from the Southern River Region Jiangnan? Might I inquire what brings you here?"


    Although the Southern River Region Jiangnan had the Four Great Families, the most formidable power naturally belonged to the Martial Alliance, for the alliance brimmed with experts¡ªnever mind the Grand Alliance Leader, even just the two Vice Sect Leaders were Huajin Grandmasters.


    Furthermore, beneath the two Vice Sect Leaders, there were four instructors who were also of Grandmaster level!


    The two members from the Martial Alliance scoffed, "We havee today primarily to seek out the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family. Hence, those irrelevant to this matter should not interject. Do you understand?"


    Pang Youze dared not speak further; his Pang Family, merely a second-tier family in the Southern River Region Jiangnan, was not bold enough to offend the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan.


    "Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, Ye Feng, it is said that you broke the limbs of Jiang Tianhu, the second son of the Jiang Family,st night. Is there any truth to this?" the two high-ranking members of the Martial Alliance pressed with a forceful tone.


    Ye Feng nodded and said, "This matter is indeed true."


    "You brat dare to admit it, that''s even better!"


    Second Master Jiang snorted coldly, "This damned Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, not only did he cripple my grandson, but he also brazenly killed a member of our n at Jiangdu''s martial arts hall a while ago, and ruined my elder brother''s grandson Jiang Tianlong. This is utterly heinous!"


    Two members of the Martial Alliance sneered, "Ye Feng, is what Second Master Jiang just said true?"


    Ye Feng nodded again, "It''s true."


    "Very well, since you are willing to admit it, that''s even better!"


    The two Martial Alliance experts waved their hands grandly, "Now, youe with us. Our Martial Alliance coach has specifically asked to see you!"


    Ye Feng suddenlyughed and said, "A mere coach. If he wants to see me, why doesn''t hee to visit me personally?"


    Before the two Martial Alliance experts could speak, Jiang Feihe, the Deputy Family Head of the Jiang Family, bellowed angrily, "Impudence! You simply have no idea how high the sky is or how deep the earth is. What status does a Martial Alliance coach have that he shoulde to visit you? Aren''t you afraid of shortening your life?"


    Ye Feng, already toozy to pay attention to these small fry, gestured towards Pang Youze, "Where are we having morning tea? Lead the way, will you?"


    At this moment, Pang Youze was still frozen in ce because he couldn''t imagine that Mr. Ye would actually dare to reject the invitation of the Martial Alliance coach, even saying that the coach should personallye to visit him.


    Such words would have surely been too presumptuous even for the Four Great Family Heads of Southern River Region Jiangnan!


    But Luo Keque was the first to react and said, "We''ve arranged for morning tea at the Elegant Pavilion in Southern River Region Jiangnan. The environment there is tranquil. Please, Mr. Ye."


    "How dare you!"


    The two Martial Alliance experts were furious and spelled it out clearly, "Ye, you actually dare to defy our Martial Alliance coach. He, the distinguished one, specifically wanted to see you to mediate the grudge between you and the Jiang Family. You don''t know what''s good for you, do you realize the trouble you''ve gotten yourself into?"


    Ye Feng''s brows furrowed as he said, "Two mad dogs barking at me early in the morning. Seventeen, p them, break their teeth."


    "Understood!" Seventeen moved immediately, pouncing forward like a ferocious tiger.


    "Ye, you dare..."


    The two Martial Alliance experts roared in anger, but their following words were cut off as Seventeen had already reached them.


    Although these two were at the Peak of the Ninth Stage of External Strength and not far from Grandmaster level, they had no chance to fight back against Seventeen.


    With two thuds, each of the men received a punch in the mouth, and more than half of their teeth were broken off, leaving their mouths full of fresh blood.


    Jiang Feihe, witnessing this scene, couldn''t help but roar, "Ye, you dare to attack a member of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan. You''re finished, you''re truly finished this time. Not even a Great Luo Immortal descending to Earth could save you!"


    "What an ignorant fool. I don''t even put the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan in my eyes, and you, a mere Deputy Family Head of the Jiang Family, also dare to yell in front of me?"


    This time, Seventeen acted again without waiting for Ye Feng''smand, and with just a punch and a p, Jiang Feihe''s legs were broken, and he immediately fell to the ground, wailing like a dying dog.


    Ye Feng didn''t even nce at the three as he instructed Hong Qingyan to push his wheelchair and slowly walked to the vehicle before getting into the car without any rush.


    As the car door was yet to be closed, Ye Feng''s indifferent voice came out, "If the people from the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan want to see me, tell them toe... oh right, the ce for morning tea..."


    "Morning tea is at the Elegant Pavilion in Southern River Region Jiangnan, Mr. Ye!" Luo Keque hastily said.


    "Then let hime to the Elegant Pavilion in Southern River Region Jiangnan. Listen carefully, tell the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan this. I don''t like to be disturbed while I''m eating breakfast. If that coach wants to visit, let him wait outside until I''m done eating before he cane in!"


    As Ye Feng finished speaking, the car door closed slowly, and then the vehicle drove off in the distance.

 Chapter 72 Ill Treat You to a Cup of Tea

    The Elegant Pavilion of the Southern River Region Jiangnan was located in a secluded area, but it was anything but simple. A narrow path lined with green bamboo led straight through, giving one a sense of serenity before even entering the ce.


    After the car stopped, Ye Feng got out with his usual calm andposed expression.


    However, Pang Youze and Luo Keque couldn''t help feeling somewhat distracted during the trip.


    After all, the person Ye Feng had just injured was a master from the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, and this incident was no small matter.


    It was almost certain that the Martial Alliance would not let this go easily and would undoubtedlye knocking.


    "And now, I wonder how Mr. Ye will face the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan Province. Can he handle it?" Pang Youze sighed.


    Luo Keque said, "Right now, your Pang Family is already in the same boat as Mr. Ye."


    "Exactly, and now it''s impossible to get off. If Mr. Ye can''t beat the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, even if he survives, he will surely be driven out of Jiangnan Province. By that time, my Pang Family is doomed to be finished, certainly to be carved up by the other major families out of spite!"


    Pang Youze shook his head and, looking at Ye Feng''s back, said, "No, I still need to prepare for the worst and start moving a part of the family''s assets out of Southern River Region Jiangnan."


    As he spoke, he took out his phone and began to make calls. Luo Keque didn''t say much, since this was amon human reaction.


    In the private room of the Elegant Pavilion, after everyone was seated, the server quickly brought over a variety of pastries. It seemed they had inquired about Ye Feng''s preferences in advance, so the morning tea served wasn''t greasy.


    But just as Ye Feng was about to pick up a crystal bun, the door of the private room was suddenly kicked open with a bang.


    "Your Excellency really has fine tastes, injuring a member of our Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan and still being able to eat so leisurely?"


    A rough and burly man sneered, then strode in with the imposing air of a ck Vajra, followed by two young men.


    Ye Feng''s chopsticks, still holding the bun, froze mid-air as he frowned and said, "Didn''t those two mad dogs on their way back tell you that I don''t like to be disturbed when I''m eating?"


    The burly man sneered, "Don''t like to be disturbed, who do you think you are, the Grand Alliance Leader of the national Martial Alliance? Quite a big talker you are, hurting a member of my Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan. Go ahead and eat, I guarantee you''ll vomit out as much as you consumeter!"


    Ye Feng stopped eating, not because he was worried about being beaten to vomiting, but because he had lost his appetite.


    "Let me introduce myself, the one forced toe here, Hong Qitian!"


    As he said this, Hong Qitian pulled out a chair and sat opposite Ye Feng, looking arrogantly self-assured.


    With a strained smile, Pang Youze said, "So, it''s Master Instructor Hong, Hong Qitian, of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan. I am Pang Youze of the Pang Family, my apologies for any disrespect."


    Hong Qitian roared angrily, "What''s the Pang Family worth? Just now, when this so-called Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family injured our Martial Alliance members, you, as a second-rate family in Southern River Region Jiangnan, not only did not stop him but instead invited him for morning tea, clearly showing no regard for the Martial Alliance!"


    "Pang Family, step aside for now, you have no right to speak here. Once thisd is dealt with, your Pang Family will be my next ount to settle!"


    Pang Youze dared not speak again, feeling only bitterness within him.


    Ye Feng, however, smiled. He couldn''t help but marvel at the so-called Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan ¨C did they truly not see clearly at all? Despite his clearly demonstrated exceptional strength, they still repeatedly provoked him.


    But this was not surprising, as the Martial Alliance had grown stronger over recent years, essentially bing the controllers in every locality. Even local families had to be beholden to the Martial Alliance, which naturally fostered their arrogant and domineering demeanor over time.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As the saying goes, "It''s the martial artists who, with their martial power, defy thew." It seems there is truth in this statement!


    Hong Qitian coldly snorted, "I, the Master Instructor Hong, value my time and have no desire to mince words with you. I''vee here today to present you with two paths!"


    Without waiting for Ye Feng to respond, Hong Qitian continued, "First, you can take your own life, and then I will bring your head to the Jiang Family to quell their wrath. By doing so, the Jiang Family won''t feel obliged to take up arms and thus prevent dragging the Hong Family of Jiangdu and the Fu Family into this mess."


    The implicit meaning of his words was that if Ye Feng dared to refuse, then it would not only spell death for him but might also lead to the eradication of both the Hong Family of Jiangdu and the Fu Family!


    Ye Feng''s expression remained unchanged as he asked, "Is this the intention of the Jiang Family? If I do not take my own life, will they annihte both the Hong Family and the Fu Family?"


    "Naturally!"


    Hong Qitian dered with a stern voice, "I know you,d, are quite capable and have a grandmaster backing you. Relying on this powerful master, you might have a chance to escape from the Southern River Region Jiangnan, but the Jiang Family has stated that if you dare to flee, the Hong Family and the Fu Family will be buried along with the deceased Jiang Youhe!"


    Ye Feng nodded and said, "I see, I understand now."


    "You understand? What exactly do you understand, boy?"


    Hong Qitian couldn''t help but grow angry, feeling that despite his lengthy exnation, the other party didn''t take his words to heart at all¡ªor was it that the other party simply didn''t regard him at all?


    Ye Feng spoke again, "Tell me about the second path."


    Hong Qitian huffed, "This second path is naturally much easier to take than the first."


    "Yesterday, Sect Master Pang Dahai of the Divine Doctor Sect said that you,d, have a way to eliminate Gu and Poison, but the technique of handling the needles seems to be the same as what the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan had previously lost, so they suspect you of stealing their medical techniques!"


    Ye Feng suddenlyughed, shaking his head, "I never would have thought Sect Master Pang Dahai could be so shameless. It appears this so-called Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect has reached the end of his rope."


    "The end of his rope?"


    Hong Qitian alsoughed, "Whether he can sit as the Sect Master is not for you to decide, not even the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan has the authority to intervene. However, speaking of which, you are quite fortunate, boy, to possess the medical technique to remove Gu and Poison!"


    "Some time ago, families like Cui Yan''s and several others, along with the Divine Doctor Sect backed by Pang Dahai, have vouched for you. They believe that if you are willing to hand over this medical technique and use it to rid the heads of several major families of their Gu and Poison, they can negotiate with the Jiang Family on your behalf."


    "Of course, the death penalty can be spared, but escaping punishment for other crimes would be difficult. After all, a Jiang Family elder was killed.


    The Jiang Family, under pressure from the major families and the Divine Doctor Sect, has already agreed that if you could treat them, the families wouldpensate the Jiang Family, and then the Jiang Family wouldn''t take your life but only both of your arms."


    "To still demand the amputation of Big Brother Ye''s arms for this? The Jiang Family is truly too oppressive. That Jiang Youhe, he clearly killed Big Brother Ye''s foster father first, and then aggressively tried to kill Big Brother Ye himself. Such a person truly deserved death!"


    Hong Qingyan, standing to the side, could no longer stay quiet and suddenly let out a cold snort.


    Hong Qitian''s face wrinkled with displeasure, and with a bang, he struck the table, scattering the food and dishes all over the ce.


    "Who do you think you are, you wretched woman? How dare you question me, the Master Instructor Hong? Kneel down and apologize this instant, or I will show you no mercy!" Hong Qitian bellowed with thunderous rage.


    Ye Feng chuckled suddenly, and said with augh, "What stature the Master Instructor Hong holds! Why bother with a youngdy? Seeing you so furious, let me offer you a cup of tea."


    Hong Qitian subconsciously thought the other party was yielding and couldn''t help but smile, reaching out to take the teacup.


    But to his surprise, Ye Feng did not hand over the teacup he had picked up. Instead, he ced it on the table and gently pressed down with the palm, causing the cup along with the tea to sinkpletely into the wooden tabletop.


    Even more terrifying was that the porcin cup, having sunk into the table, did not break, and not a single drop of tea spilled out.


    Upon seeing this, Hong Qitian''s face instantly turned pale with fright, and his legs even began to tremble.

 Chapter 73 The Problem is Somewhat Serious

    Hong Qitian''s heart cried bitterly. As a Master of Inner Force, he was keenly aware of what it meant to press a teacup into the table with just a pair of fleshy palms.


    This power, let alone a Master of Inner Force, even a Huajin Grandmaster would probably not be able to do it, at the very least it would take a higher level High-Level Grandmaster, or even a Martial King.


    No matter what, Hong Qitian couldn''t have imagined that someone who was clearly just a young man in his early twenties, and even wheelchair-bound with disabled legs, could possess such terrifying power and realm.


    This realm could kill him in an instant!


    Luo Keque and Pang Youze, who were standing by, were also stunned on the spot, but soon after, they were overjoyed. They too had seen that this single move was enough to exin everything.


    Ye Feng said with a faint smile, "Master Instructor Hong, how is the taste of my tea?"


    Hong Qitian''s throat was dry, making it impossible for him to answer; his entire body shook uncontrobly like chaff.


    "Ye... Mr. Ye, previously it was I, the scoundrel, who was blind and failed to recognize Mt. Tai, offending Mr. Ye. I hope Mr.


    Ye can show mercy!"


    Hong Qitian couldn''t keep sitting in his chair and stiffly stood up.


    Ye Feng sighed, then asked straight away, "Now, who is in charge of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan Province?"


    Hong Qitian answered truthfully, "It''s Murong Huangtian. He is currently the Leader of the Martial Alliance."


    "Murong Huangtian from the Gusu Murong n of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan?" Ye Feng raised an eyebrow in inquiry.


    "Yes, indeed. He is the current head of the Gusu Murong, an ancient family. In the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, this branch is just a fragment. Last year during the election for the Leader of the Martial Alliance, Murong Huangtian dominated his rivals and came out on top as the Alliance Hierarch!" Hong Qitian said, bowing his head.


    Ye Feng nodded slightly and then asked, "What about the Yin Family?"


    Hong Qitian shook his head and said, "The Yin Family of the Four Great Families didn''t vie for the position of Alliance Hierarch. They have been very low-profile these years, seemingly retracting their business ventures."


    "Has anyone from the Yin Family been poisoned with Gu and Poison this time?" Ye Feng asked with a heavy tone.


    Hong Qitian pondered for a while before speaking up, "That... I really do not know. After all, this is not within the jurisdiction of the Martial Alliance. The Divine Doctor Sect should have a clearer picture."


    Throughout the whole process, Hong Qitian''s heart was filled with turmoil. He couldn''t help thinking, what was the background of this young, peerless high-level martial artist in front of him?


    Pang Youze suddenly said, "Reporting to Mr. Ye, no one from the Yin Family has contracted the poison. I''ve personally investigated thisst night."


    "As expected!" Ye Feng responded with a faint smile.


    Hong Qitian stood in an ufortable and restless manner, struggling internally for a long time before he stammered, "Then Mr. Ye... if there''s nothing else, I shall... take my leave?"


    Having said that, he turned around, intending to leave.


    Ye Fengughed softly and hummed lightly, "Seeing that you''re an old hand in the martial arts world, you''re leaving just like that, without any sense of propriety?"


    Hong Qitian froze on the spot as if electrified, grinding his teeth he asked, "So what do you want, Mr. Ye?"


    Ye Feng sneered, "Throwing your weight around in front of me is nothing, after all, you are nothing but a fart in my eyes. But the problem is you roared at her just now. That is a bit more serious."


    Clenching his teeth tightly, Hong Qitian inquired, "I still don''t know who this youngdy is to Mr. Ye?"


    "She is my fianc¨¦e!"


    Ye Feng''s expression darkened, he huffed, "I can hardly bear to raise my voice to her on a normal day, and who are you, a nobody, to dare yell at her?"


    Hong Qitian grunted, "I was wrong, Mr. Ye, do you think this is enough?"


    While speaking, Hong Qitian pped his own face repeatedly until it swelled up significantly and blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, even knocking out several of his front teeth.


    The scene had be quite dramatic; with the doors wide open, many people were looking into the private room. Seeing this spectacle, they were all dumbfounded, having never witnessed someone so ruthless as to knock out his own teeth.


    "Crawl out!" Ye Feng waved his hand, sending several teacups crashing to the ground, shattering into pieces.


    "Go back and tell Murong Huangtian that he has five days to reform the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, to purge the poison within the alliance, otherwise, don''t me me for being impolite when the timees!"


    "It will be done, Mr. Ye. I will definitely convey your message!"


    Speaking in a heavy tone, Hong Qitian knelt on the ground, then crawled out like a stray dog across the scattered porcin fragments.


    The onlookers couldn''t help but sigh as they watched. As arrogant and domineering as he had been upon entering, he was now just as wretched and pathetic. Hong Qitian, one of the four great instructors of the Martial Alliance and also a Master of Inner Force, had utterly ruined his reputation from this day forth.


    Only after he hadpletely crawled out of the private room did the two followers dare to rush up in an attempt to help him up.


    "Get the hell away from me!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hong Qitian swung his arm and pushed the two away, then slowly rose to his feet, gnashing his teeth in a hysterical roar, "Ye, you damn Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, I want you dead, swear you''ll meet a terrible end!"


    The two followers said, "Instructor Hong, regarding what happened today with that guy named Ye, perhaps we should hurry back to report to the alliance, let others know."


    "Tell the others?"


    Hong Qitian suddenly realized the implications, and with a swift kick, knocked the speaker to the ground, bellowing, "I''m telling you, not a word about today''s incident is to be leaked. Anyone who dare to spill, don''t me me for not being polite!"


    If this incident got out, Hong Qitian would probably be theughingstock with his current status as a Master of Inner Force unlikely to hold any weight in the Southern River Region Jiangnan anymore.


    "But Instructor, that guy..."


    "None of this ''but'' crap!" Hong Qitian kicked the men to the ground again, raging, "Don''t say I didn''t warn you beforehand¡ªif anyone dares to let slip even half a word, I''ll eradicate your entire families!"


    Finally , the two understood that the head of the Hong Family was indeed harboring murderous intent and dared not utter another word.


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng had caused such a stir that he no longer had much of an appetite, hastily eating some pastries before leaving the Elegant Pavilion.


    "Mr. Ye, where shall we go next? Or rather, do you have any ns after this?" Luo Keque asked.


    Having witnessed the incident with the teacup, Luo Keque''s reverence towards Ye Feng was almost at the point ofplete submission.


    Ye Feng thought for a moment, then asked, "Which is closer from here, the Jiang Family or the Divine Doctor Sect?"


    Pang Youze said, "The Jiang Family is closer, about only a twenty-minute drive away. Mr. Ye, you are nning to¡­?"


    "Let''s go to the Jiang Family first!" Ye Feng dered, waving his hand, and then got into the car with the assistance of Hong Qingyan.


    Pang Youze and Luo Keque exchanged looks; they naturally knew the implications of Ye Feng''s decision to visit the Jiang Family.


    "Keque, are we both supposed to follow?" Pang Youze was somewhat apprehensive after all, it was the Jiang Family they were dealing with, one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan.


    Luo Keque pondered briefly before assertively saying, "If Mr. Ye dares to make a visit on his own, it means he is absolutely confident. At this critical juncture, we cannot hesitate, or we''ll miss the opportunity."


    "All right, let''s go together. I have a premonition that our Southern River Region Jiangnan Province is about to witness a change of times!"

 Chapter 74 You Have One Opportunity to Ask

    Twenty minutester, Ye Feng arrived at the Jiang Family.


    As one of the Four Great Families of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, the Jiang Family upied a vast manor at the foot of Gold Mountain.


    The manor was replete with vis, a kingdom belonging to the Jiang Family¡ªits main gate guarded by no less than eight sentinels, usually admitting only the direct lineage of the Jiang Family.


    As for outsiders, they could enter only with permission or an invitation from the Jiang Family.


    As expected, the car was stopped by the eight guards upon reaching the gate.


    "Seventeen!" Ye Feng didn¡¯t get out of the car but simply called out two words.


    Since he hade personally to settle ounts, there was nothing much to say¡ªtime to get down to business.


    The reason Ye Feng visited the Jiang Family in person was that they had outrageously sought to exterminate the Hong Family of Jiangdu and the Fu Family. This was a provocation that touched Ye Feng¡¯s raw nerve!


    One could imagine that if he didn¡¯tpletely tten the Jiang Family today, one day when he returned to the Imperial City or the Northern Border, the Jiang Family would certainly seek vengeance against the Hong and Fu families.


    By then, facing the Jiang Family, a ferocious beast of a flood, the Hong Family of Jiangdu and the Fu Family would surely be unable to withstand them.


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t relish killing, but he would never tolerate his rtives and brothers suffering due to him!


    Seventeen immediately took action, pouncing like a fierce tiger. The eight sentinels, merely martial arts practitioners of the fifth and sixth stage of External Strength, couldn¡¯t possibly withstand him.


    Just in a blink, the eight men were already sprawled all over the ce.


    With the obstruction removed, the car drove straight in, following the mountain foothill trail towards the ostentatious vis ahead.


    At this moment, in thergest vi hall at the mountain base, Old Patriarch Jiang of the Jiang Family, Jiang Xianhe, was sitting leisurely in a Taishi Chair.


    Beneath Jiang Xianhe stood two middle-aged men, both standing respectfully.


    "Have you found out yet why the three family elders suddenly disappeared?" Jiang Xianhe sniffed his snuffbox, his hand holding the box withered like tinder.


    His whole person was also very haggard, shrunk into the Taishi Chair with a face soical that he looked like a monkey, his voice weak as he spoke.


    However, if one thought that this chief of the Jiang n was a frail old man nearing his end, they would be gravely mistaken!


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Last year, when the winter snow sealed the mountains, Jiang Xianhe had gone into Gold Mountain and even hunted a fierce tiger with his bare hands!


    "Reporting to father, two days ago I had sent people to investigate, but up to now, there¡¯s still no trace of the whereabouts of the three uncles; they seem to have vanished into thin air!" said Jiang Tianlong¡¯s father, Jiang Youjun, with a cold voice.


    The other middle-aged man, Jiang Tianhu¡¯s father, Jiang Right Army, hesitated and then said, "Father, all three uncles are Masters of Inner Force at the Huajin Level. Suchbat strength, let alone a mere Jiangdu, even within the entire Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, is not to be underestimated. The three of them couldn¡¯t have disappeared without reason!"


    Jiang Youjun suddenly suggested, "Could it be that they were suddenly killed by someone?"


    On hearing this, Jiang Xianhe¡¯s eyes widened abruptly before he retorted in a cold voice, "Killed them? Who has the audacity? Three Masters of Inner Force, even a Huajin Grandmaster wouldn¡¯t have the strength, unless it¡¯s a Peak Grandmaster."


    "However... throughout the whole Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, there are only so few Peak Grandmasters, and I was watching closely that night. They never left the Southern River Region, so it¡¯s impossible that they were murdered."


    These three Masters of Inner Force of the Jiang Family were precisely the ones who, a while ago, had secretly rushed to Jiangdu and attempted to assassinate Ye Feng at the foot of Serpent Coil Mountain.


    The Jiang Family had thought that there was only one Master of Inner Force behind Ye Feng. Sending out three Grandmasters from their side, they believed they had the situation well in hand.


    However, Jiang Xianhe could never have imagined the kind of existence they were attempting to assassinate!


    "Father, is it possible that this Ye Feng, the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, is actually a peerless master and that the three uncles were¡­ by him?"


    "Impossible!"


    Jiang Xianhe abruptly interrupted, sniffing his snuffbox, grunted, "I¡¯ve already had people investigate thisd; three months ago, he was covered in serious injuries, and now he is even more disabled, bound to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, unable to be a master!"


    "Father is right, how could there be a peerless master in this world who can only sit in a wheelchair?" Jiang Youjun sneered slightly.


    "You think there are none because you are just a frog at the bottom of a well!"


    Just then, a cold and faint voice came from outside.


    "Who dares to make a racket out there, are they courting death!" Jiang Xianhe roared in anger, for as the Chief of the Jiang n, he held supreme authority.


    No sooner had his words ended than he saw a wheelchair roll into the hall, pushed slowly by a young girl with a limp.


    Sitting in the chair was a young man, in his early twenties, with a rugged, square face disying a smile that was not quite a smile, and his eyes sharp like steel des, seemingly piercing straight into one¡¯s heart.


    Jiang Xianhe¡¯s gaze sharpened, having investigated for so long, he naturally knew who hade.


    "It¡¯s you, you actually dare toe here on your own ord?"


    Jiang Xianhe snarled between clenched teeth, without standing up from the Taishi Chair as he felt there was no need to, for this was the Jiang Family¡¯s base camp after all, and besides himself, a Huajin Grandmaster, the family had many masters.


    Thus, he thought the other partying here in person was like amb walking into a tiger¡¯s den!


    Ye Feng chuckled lightly, "I¡¯m here to ask you some questions!"


    Just as enemies meeting are especially resentful, Jiang Xianhe snorted coldly, "You may ask, but before you do, I need to be clear about one thing!"


    "You have one chance to ask!" Ye Feng stated.


    Jiang Xianhe snorted, "First, let me ask you, were the three Grandmasters of my Jiang Family killed by you?"


    Ye Feng said, "At the cliffs below Serpent Coil Mountain in Jiangdu, the feng shui is quite good!"


    Although this statement did not directly answer, it was as good as a confirmation, and Jiang Xianhe knew the answer.


    Jiang Youjun and Jiang Zuo Army, the two brothers, inhaled sharply, their faces showing grave concern, realizing that one capable of ying three Masters of Inner Force was clearly not average.


    However, matters had developed to this stage; clearly, there was no way back¡ªit was either his death or their own.


    Jiang Xianhe suddenly started to chuckle coldly, grunting, "Very well, in light of your impending death, you may now ask!"


    Ye Feng said, "Before I ask, you need to understand one thing: the answer to this next question will determine the survival of your Jiang Family, so I hope you think carefully before you answer!"


    Jiang Xianhe merely scoffed in response.


    At this moment, the servants in the hall had already withdrawn, and at the same time, all the skilled members of the Jiang Family had been summoned here, creating an atmosphere of an imminent storm, ready to strike immediately upon Old Patriarch Jiang¡¯smand.


    Ye Feng asked, "Let me ask you, if one day I¡¯m no longer in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, will your Jiang Family strike at the Hong Family of Jiangdu and the Fu Family, eradicating them both?"


    Before Jiang Xianhe could speak, Jiang Tianhu, who had rushed over, gnashed his teeth and said, "Ye Feng, you¡¯ve killed our Jiang n members, and it doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re not in Southern River Region Jiangnan; even if you are, my Jiang Family will definitely wipe out the Hong Family and the Fu Family, sparing no male and forcing their women to spend their lives as ves under our Jiang men!"


    Ye Feng¡¯s gaze hardened, and a storm of killing intent surged around him like a raging cyclone.

 Chapter 75 The Majesty of the Martial King, Not to Be Defiled!

    "Kill!" Ye Feng¡¯s voice burst forth with his breath.


    Seventeen moved,unching himself forward like a ferocious tiger.


    Jiang Xianhe was clearly prepared and, together with the remaining two Inner Strength Grandmasters, charged directly at Ye Feng.


    Being Inner Strength Grandmasters, especially Jiang Xianhe who had already stepped into the realm of a Huajin Grandmaster, their presence was formidable, with their robes billowing and snapping without any wind.


    Jiang Xianhe¡¯s speed was even faster than Seventeen¡¯s; in the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Ye Feng.


    But Ye Feng still sat immobile in his wheelchair like a mountain, not even a frown crossing his brow.


    There had been a time when he, the Northern Border King, faced thrice his number in enemies, surrounded by legions of soldiers without changing his expression, let alone being fazed by a mere Huajin Grandmaster.


    "Die!"


    With lethal intent, Jiang Xianhe reached out with a great hand towards Ye Feng¡¯s throat, which would have been severed instantly had he been grabbed.


    However, at that moment, a tempest-like force burst forth from Ye Feng¡¯s entire body.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The Martial King of his generation, his inner strength surged like a storm.


    With a bang, Jiang Xianhe was sent flying backward.


    Ye Feng had not even lifted a finger; it was merely the force of the inner strength emanating from his body that sent him, along with the two other Inner Strength Grandmasters who had charged over, tumbling through the air.


    Jiang Xianhe mmed heavily into the wall, even causing several cracks to appear on its surface. When he fell to the ground, he was already gasping for breath.


    "You... you¡¯re not a cripple, you are actually... actually a king..."


    Jiang Xianhe¡¯s words trailed off as he drew hisst breath, dying with his eyes wide open!


    The rest of the onlookers were stupefied, frozen in ce, not daring to make another move.


    "Cripple those two, and for the unrted others, spare their dog lives for now!" Ye Feng¡¯s gaze was sharp, his voice icy.


    Seventeen swept past and directly crippled the two men of the Left Army and the Right Army.


    It was but a single encounter, and the Jiang Family, known as one of the Four Great Families of the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, nearly met its downfall.


    Ye Feng, disinclined to pay any further attention to the trembling crowd, waved his great hand and left in his wheelchair pushed by Hong Qingyan.


    As a monarch of his era, countless enemies had died at Ye Feng¡¯s hand, but he was not a man who killed indiscriminately or took pleasure in ughter.


    The silence in the Jiang Family hall was deathlike until at that moment they realized what a terrifying existence their family had provoked.


    "Dead, the head of the family is dead! What are you all standing around for, seek revenge, don¡¯t let that man get away!" Suddenly, someone screamed.


    "Shut up, seek revenge? With what? Provoking such a being... Didn¡¯t you hear what Father just said? The other party is a king, a Martial King!"


    "A Martial King, there are so few monarchs in the whole world. Let alone our small Southern River Region Jiangnan Family, even those aristocratic n gates in the capital dare not publicly challenge a Martial King. ept your defeat!"


    Despite the excruciating pain from his severed arm, the Jiangzuo Armymander shouted loudly, "All members of the Jiang Family, heed mymand: Speak not a word of today¡¯s events, or you shall be killed without mercy. Henceforth, the Jiang Family will retract its businesses, close its doors to visitors, and no direct lineage family members are permitted to leave.


    We shall recuperate and multiply!"


    Having settled into the car, Ye Feng heard Jiangzuo Army¡¯s words and couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly.


    This Jiangzuo Armymander was indeed a man who knew the times and when to advance or retreat, able to give up on vengeance and constrain his family disciples to shrink their business in such a decisive moment.


    Nowadays, the upper echelons of the Jiang Family had almost entirely perished, and without a Grandmaster to hold the fort, they were not evenparable to a third-rate family. If they continued to be high-profile, there was only a dead end.


    Of course, for Ye Feng, if the Jiang Family dared toe after him, he wouldn¡¯t mind obliterating thempletely.


    After all, the dignity of a once-great king was not to be provoked!


    The car arrived quickly and departed just as swiftly. Since the Jiang Family was worried about being vulnerable to attacks, theypletely sealed off any news, which meant that, for the time toe, the several major families in Southern River Region Jiangnan were destined to remain clueless.


    Throughout this time, Luo Keque and Pang Youze didn¡¯t utter a word. They were profoundly shocked; they had never imagined that the young man they followed was not only a Peerless Divine Doctor but also a Martial King!


    What did it mean to be a Martial King? That was a being even more terrifying than those aristocratic ns at the imperial city!


    At this moment, facing this young man who was still sitting in a wheelchair, Luo Keque and Pang Youze felt the pressure.


    "Reporting to Mr. Ye, there¡¯s a piece of news about the Yin Family that I¡¯m not sure if I should mention?" Pang Youze suddenly spoke up on the road.


    "About the Yin Family? Speak!" Ye Feng raised his eyebrows.


    Pang Youze nodded before daring to say, "I just received a message from my family. The Yin Family from the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan has suddenly made a move, announcing that in two days, they will host a banquet for themercial elite families of Jiangdu!"


    "Hosting a banquet to invite all themercial elite families in Southern River Region Jiangnan?" Ye Feng couldn¡¯t helpughing upon hearing this news.


    He knew the Yin Family, or more urately, the Gu&Poison Sect behind them, could no longer wait and had to make a move.


    It was understandable; the Gu&Poison Sect backing the Yin Family aimed to control therge and wealthy families of Southern River Region Jiangnan by using their Gu poison, thereby achieving control over the region¡¯s industry.


    Since the Gu and Poison had already beenid out, it was time for them to start reaping the rewards.


    Pang Youze said, "After two days, it is the seventieth birthday of the Yin Family¡¯s patriarch. There are even rumors suggesting that they might have a way to get rid of the Gu&Poison, so now several major families, including Cui Yan¡¯s, can¡¯t wait to visit them."


    Having said his piece, Pang Youze closed his mouth. He did notment on the phenomenon, as he had a feeling that whatever he said about the Yin Family would seem childish in the eyes of this young Martial King.


    Ye Feng said, "Good, in that case, it saves me the effort of looking for them. In two days, we will visit the Yin Family!"


    Luo Keque spoke up, "Then, Mr. Ye, where should we go next? Are we still visiting the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan?"


    Ye Feng intended to visit, of course. Pang Dahai, the dog, dared to publicly im that the Phoenix Returns to Heaven Needle Technique was his master¡¯s Supreme Knowledge.


    This score, Ye Feng naturally intended to settle it clearly. Moreover, with such a degenerate emerging from the Divine Doctor Sect, if Ye Feng didn¡¯tpletely remove him, wouldn¡¯t that tarnish the original intent of the Divine Doctor Sect to serve the world with a benevolent heart?


    Before Ye Feng could speak, Hong Qingyan suddenly said, "Big Brother Ye, after this, I want to go back and rest for a while. I was a bit tired just now and also a bit frightened!"


    It must be said that this was the first time Hong Qingyan had personally witnessed such a scene. For an ordinary woman like her, her heart was surely not calm.


    Ye Feng thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, we will head back to the vi first. Also, Pang Youze, have someone send over some exquisite meals. We¡¯ll eat at the vi at noon and won¡¯t go out for now."


    Both Pang Youze and Luo Keque could see that although this woman was slightly limp, she held a significant ce in Ye Feng¡¯s heart, so they readily nodded in agreement.


    Once they returned to the vi, Hong Qingyan was alreadypletely drained. After having a simple meal, she went back to her room to rest.


    Just at that moment, someone unexpectedly arrived with a message.


    "Who is it at the door?"


    "The Divine Doctor Sect has arrived. Will the people inside note out swiftly to receive us?" The person outside let out a coldugh.

 Chapter 76 Just name your price!

    The Divine Doctor Sect had a profound presence, and for ordinary people, it was almost an unreachable entity, always seen as above the masses.


    Over the past two years, as the Sect¡¯s influence had grown, it had gradually evolved into a private medical institution for the wealthy nobility, having already strayed from its original purpose.


    And precisely because it usually provided medical care to the noble families, the wealth of the Divine Doctor Sect grew rapidly, and its members became increasingly ostentatious and overbearing.


    It was for this reason that Ye Feng thought of taking this opportunity to properly rectify the Divine Doctor Sect.


    "Let them in!" Ye Feng raised his eyebrows.


    The ones knocking on the door this time were not Master Pang Dahai of the Divine Doctor Sect; with his status, Pang Dahai was not about to lower himself to make a personal visit.


    Only two messengers hade.


    "May I ask which of you is Mr. Ye Feng?" The two men were quite polite, probably because they had already heard of the reputation of the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family and didn¡¯t dare to be too arrogant.


    "I am he," replied Ye Feng, "what brings you here?"


    "Wee bearing a message from the Sect Master!" replied one of them.


    One of the men continued with a snort, "The Sect Master says that the Needle Technique you possess is very likely the one his master had lost before, and of course, for prudence¡¯s sake, as well as out of respect for you, the Sect Master has invited a steward from the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the imperial capital toe to the Southern River Region Jiangnan."


    Upon hearing this, Luo Keque couldn¡¯t help but exim, "Someone from the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the imperial capital ising?"


    The other Divine Doctor Sect member humphed, "That¡¯s right. This steward from the capital¡¯s headquarters was a good friend of Master Pang¡¯ste master and it is said he has witnessed Master Pang¡¯s master perform the Needle Technique."


    "Therefore," the Sect member continued, "The Sect Master would like Mr. Ye to pay a visit to the Divine Doctor Sect in person and demonstrate the Medical Acupuncture Technique you possess in front of everyone. Just one nce from that steward from the capital¡¯s Sect will reveal whether it was stolen by you or not."


    "How dare you!" Pang Youze immediately interrupted with a cold shout. "With Mr. Ye¡¯s status, would he engage in such thievery?"


    After learning that Ye Feng was a Martial King, Pang Youze¡¯s attitude did aplete one-eighty, knowing full well what a Martial King represented. Not to mention a small Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, even in the imperial capital, a Martial King was an influential figure!


    The two messengers sneered, "We¡¯re merely conveying a message. It¡¯s not up to us to decide whether Mr. Ye is guilty of theft. We have ryed our words, and whether Mr. Ye dares to go to prove his innocence is his own affair."


    Furthermore, they added with another cold hum, "Of course, Mr. Ye can also choose not to go. However, the custodians of several major families, including Cui Yan of the Divine Doctor Sect, have already spoken at the Sect. They¡¯ve warned that if Mr. Ye dares to refuse, he had better consider the consequences carefully!"


    Luo Kequeughed and retorted, "What, are you threatening Mr. Ye?"


    "Not at all! As we said before, we are merely rying a message. Surely Mr. Ye, a personage such as yourself, wouldn¡¯t make things difficult for us mere servants, right?" they replied.


    Ye Feng waved his hand dismissively, exactly as the two had described. He wasn¡¯t going to stoop to the level of such insignificant figures.


    "I¡¯ll ask you, what is the name of the steward from the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the imperial capital?" Ye Feng inquired.


    Back then, the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the imperial capital was established under the leadership of Ye Feng, the Northern Border Sovereign, in conjunction with the Medicine King of the Valley of the Medicine King. The headquarters had one Main Sect Leader, two Vice Sect Leaders, and eight stewards.


    As for Ye Feng, he had taken a backstage role as an honorary Sect Master, seldom appearing in the Sect, hence, not many knew of him.


    However, logically speaking, the eight executives of the Imperial Doctor Headquarters should be aware of the existence of this honorary sect master!


    The two messengers said with a bitter smile, "How could we lowly figures possibly know the names of the executors from the Imperial Capital? Such beings are beyond our reach. We have ryed the message, so whether Mr. Ye will go or not, please give us a response."


    Ye Feng chuckled softly, "Since people from the Imperial Capital have arrived, very well, go back and tell that Pang Zhu that at eight o¡¯clock tonight, I shall be there on time!"


    The two men immediately excused themselves and left.


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t pay too much mind to this matter, at most he was just a bit curious about which executive from the Divine Doctor Headquarters hade this time.


    Both Pang Youze and Luo Keque were looking forward to it, especially after knowing that Ye Feng was a Martial King, they were even more eager for the Four Great Families of Jiangdu and people like Pang Dahai to keep popping up to cause trouble for Ye Feng.


    The more they sought trouble, the more devastating their end was bound to be!


    "Pang Youze, over the next two days, keep a close watch on every move of the Yin Family, and remember, you must not let the Yin Family notice!" Ye Feng suddenly spoke up.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Pang Youze couldn¡¯t help asking, "May I ask Mr. Ye, speaking of the Yin Family, they are merely like the Jiang Family. Why is Mr. Ye so concerned about them?"


    Ye Feng¡¯s brow raised, showing a trace of displeasure.


    Luo Keque quickly tugged at Pang Youze¡¯s sleeve and said, "Just carry out Mr. Ye¡¯s order. Since Mr. Ye is so concerned, I think we should handle this personally, lest we botch the matter."


    Only then did Pang Youzee to his senses, nodding continuously, "Yes, yes, that was thoughtless of me. Please don¡¯t take offense, Mr. Ye. We will see to it immediately!"


    Ye Feng then nodded, "Just keep watch. No matter what you find out, do not act recklessly, just report back to me directly!"


    The two men repeatedly agreed, then left together.


    The vi finally quieted down, and Seventeen had also retired by then.


    Ye Feng thought for a moment, then maneuvered his wheelchair into the bedroom and found that Hong Qingyan was already fast asleep, so he did not disturb her and decided to rest in another room instead.


    At half-past seven in the evening, Luo Keque and Pang Youze returned to the vi. There had been no unusual activity from the Yin Family, except for them preparing joyfully for the seventieth birthday celebration of the old family head of the Yin Family.


    Ye Feng said nothing more. He was helped into the car by Hong Qingyan, then the group set off.


    The car wound its way through much of the Jiangnan Provincial City before arriving at a manor in the suburbs.


    The manor was both new and imposing, apparently newly built. Before even entering, one could see ivy climbing all over the courtyard walls, and through the steel fence, catch sight of the grand garden with its artificial hills and pavilions, exuding tranquility.


    As soon as the car stopped at the main gate, an old man dressed in a luxurious long robe immediately approached and respectfully said, "I am Cui Hao, Deputy Family Head of the Cui Family in the Southern River Region Jiangnan. I¡¯ve had the honor of meeting Mr. Ye. I was almost convinced that Mr. Ye would note."


    Getting out of the car and sitting in his wheelchair, Ye Feng looked up and said, "Are you trying to suggest that you thought I wouldn¡¯t dare toe?"


    Cui Hao was startled, then smiled and said, "Mr. Ye really has a sense of humor. As the saying goes, the innocent prove their innocence by daring to face questioning. Since Mr. Ye dared toe, it might signify that you have nothing to hide. By the way, Mr.


    Ye, my Cui Family maintains our previous offer¡ªif Mr. Ye is willing to take action to save the life of the Head of the Cui Family, you can name your price!"


    The Deputy Family Head of the Yan Family along with several other family representatives also came forward and said, "We were at fault for our previous offense. We echo the same sentiment¡ªif Mr. Ye is willing to provide treatment to save our family heads, mention any amount of money you desire, and as long as it¡¯s within our capabilities, we guarantee to agree!"

 Chapter 77 The King, Three Refusals to Save!

    Ye Feng sat in his wheelchair, fixing his gaze on Cui Hao, "You say I get to set the conditions?"


    Cui Hao said with a smile, "Indeed, Mr. Ye, feel free to state your price!"


    "Very well, I want half of all your families'' assets!"


    Ye Feng said, "Each family, if you wish for my help, must hand over half of your assets!"


    "Half of the family assets? Why don''t you just rob us!"


    The Deputy Family Head of the Yan Family immediately bristled and red, "Do you know, not to mention the Cui Family, just half of my Yan Family''s assets are worth how much money, not to mince words, but at the very least several tens of billions. You really have the nerve to ask for that much."


    Cui Hao''s expression also darkened considerably. The color drained from his face as the Yan Family was only a second-tier family in the Southern River Region Jiangnan, while his Cui Family, being one of the Four Great Families of Jiangnan Province, had assets worth a few hundred billion for just half.


    He had initially thought that even if the other party asked for a very high price, it would be no more than two or three billion. After all, this was just to save one person, and it would already be an exorbitant price. But Cui Hao could never have anticipated that the other party would ask for something even more immense than the heavens themselves.


    "Mr. Ye," Cui Hao said, his tone now carrying the hint of annoyance and threat, "Asking for too much can sometimes be indigestible, and you might just burst!"


    Ye Feng responded with a cold chuckle, neither confirming nor denying, "Does that mean you can''t do it?"


    "It''s impossible to do!"


    Cui Hao said emphatically with a snort, "Not to mention half, even one-fifth of the assets, we definitely can''t do!"


    The Deputy Family Head of the Yan Family narrowed his eyes, "Mr. Ye, by making such exorbitant demands, it seems like you genuinely have no intention to negotiate, do you?"


    Ye Feng turned to look at him, "Negotiate? Why not? I''ve changed my mind now, I don''t want half of your assets."


    Cui Hao couldn''t help butugh, thinking to himself, "I knew it; this young fellow just wanted to inte the price initially and then press us down. This is amon tactic used by merchants, and now it seems reasonable."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    But what Ye Feng said next left himpletely astounded once again.


    Ye Feng stated, "This time I don''t want half of your assets, I want them all!"


    "If you agree, thene and find me!" After saying this, Ye Feng turned his wheelchair and slowly made his way inside the courtyard of the Divine Doctor Sect.


    Cui Hao and the deputy heads of severalrge families were left frozen in ce, watching the back of Ye Feng, not knowing what to say for a time.


    After a long while, Cui Hao finally gritted his teeth and said, "This ungrateful fool, the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, is truly unbearably arrogant!"


    The representative from the Yan Family said, "He wants all the assets of our families? Why doesn''t he just go rob someone? It''s absolutely ludicrous!"


    "This young man, he doesn''t have the slightest intention to negotiate with us. He is humiliating us, this is utterly outrageous!"


    The many family representatives were seething with anger. Cui Hao squinted his eyes and pronounced each word, "This man truly does not intend to save anyone, since he has shown no mercy, don''t me us for ourck of righteousness!"


    The representative from the Yan Family asked, "Deputy Head of the Cui Family, since this Mr. Ye from the Hong Family doesn''t intend to save him, what should we do next?"


    "That''s not hard to solve!"


    Cui Hao sneered coldly, revealing Elder Zhang''s cunning face, and snorted, "Originally thought, a few hundred million would be enough to send the kid away, but now it seems he sincerely refuses to save the day. Since that''s the case, we''re left with no other path but Pang Dahai."


    "ording to intelligence, Pang Dahai has used his connections to invite an officer from the headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the imperial capital," someone exined.


    A representative from one of the families asked, "What does Pang Dahai want with an officer from the headquarters?"


    "What else? Naturally, it''s for that Medical Acupuncture Technique in Ye Feng''s possession that can remove and heal the Gu and Poison!" Cui Hao huffed.


    A representative from the Yan Family murmured, "Does that mean that Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family''s Needle Technique really belongs to Master Pang, and was actually stolen by that Yed?"


    Cui Hao gave him a disdainful look and snorted, "What kind of character do you think Pang Dahai has? Would he mention it if he didn''t see the huge benefits of the technique? If he didn''t say as much, how would he stand to gain?"


    Hearing this, everyone suddenly realized, nodding in agreement, "Indeed, what we can confirm now is that this Frenzied Son-in-Law''s Medical Acupuncture Technique can indeed remove Gu and Poison. Yet this Ye fellow refuses to lend a hand to save our family head. If Pang Dahai can take possession of it, then the initiative will be in Pang Dahai''s hands."


    "By then, no matter what terms Pang Dahai sets, even if it''s several hundred million, we''ll still have to obediently agree. Pang Dahai truly is despicable!"


    Cui Hao sighed and said, "Whether that Ye fellow really stole Master Pang''s technique isn''t important. We don''t care about that; what we''re concerned about now is whether Pang Dahai can get his hands on that technique!"


    "From the attitude of that Ye fellow earlier, it''s clear he has no intention of helping. Our only hope now is if Pang Dahai, that old traitor, manages to acquire it."


    "So, when we go inter, we must unify our statements and firmly support Pang Dahai. With the support of that eminent figure from the imperial capital, and under his pressure, Pang Dahai should have a very good chance."


    As Cui Hao spoke, his eyes narrowed into two sinister slits, "Once Pang Dahai gets it, that will mark the end for the kid. To provoke us so brazenly, without any regard for our position, we must kill him to quell our wrath."


    Ye Feng didn''t deliberately listen to their discussions at the door, as he wasn''t interested. Of course, even without using his Inner Strength to hear, he could still guess what they were saying.


    It wasn''t that he was unwilling to help the dying. Ye Feng had initially proposed the establishment of the Divine Doctor Sect with the intention of saving lives and aiding the injured.


    However, as the Northern Border King, a ruler in his own right, he naturally had his own medical ethics!


    The first principle was not to save those who were arrogant and despondent. The second was not to save those who were contemptuous and looked down on others. And the third was not to save those whomitted evils!


    And these principles, these great families had nearly managed to vite them all.


    Had the deputy heads of the families been able to humble themselves and earnestly apologise and plead at the gate, Ye Feng might have considered helping after dealing with the Gu&Poison Sect. But their performance had been utterly disgraceful!


    After passing by the pavilions, rockeries, and even a smallke in the courtyard, Ye Feng finally arrived at the main hall.


    Pang Dahai was quite arrogant and had note out to greet him. Even as Ye Feng''s wheelchair was about to enter the hall, Pang Dahai remained seated, not bothering to stand¡ªan extremely haughty attitude.


    "Atst you''vee, they say that a guilty conscience needs no user, but your nerve seems to be quite sturdy!" Pang Dahai directly started with sarcasm.


    The hall was already upied by many high-ranking members of the Divine Doctor Sect, including Sect Master Qi Tianmen of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect.


    Pang Dahai sat in the main seat, which suggested that the officer from the headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the imperial capital hadn''t yet arrived.


    Ye Feng retorted with a cold smile, "You spew nder without a shred of evidence, your own nerve doesn''t seem too bad either, does it?"


    Before Pang Dahai could respond, Sect Master Qi Tianmen from the side coldly interjected, "What do you mean by that, Mr. Ye? To say that Master Pang is ndering you is absurd. What status does Master Pang hold, and what standing do you have? How could he nder you?"

 Chapter 78 Do You Consider Yourself a Big Shot?

    ```


    Qitian Gate could be said to be unting his authority, relying on the backing of Pang Dahai, the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect from the Provincial City, he was shouting orders left and right.


    Ye Feng did not even look at Qitian Gate, considering such a petty character beneath his notice.


    He did not even spare a nce at Pang Dahai; things as insignificant as ants did not merit his attention!


    Ye Feng directly asked, "The deacon from the imperial capital, where is he now?"


    Pang Dahai snorted, "That deacon, being weary from the long journey, I had two favored girls attend to him, helping him to sleep. He has not yet awoken at this hour."


    Ye Feng couldn''t help but smile, seeing the obvious bribery at y. But then, it seemed normal; inviting someone from the imperial capital to take care of business, it was only right to offer some perks.


    "You lot, do not have the qualifications to speak with me, have hime out to meet me!" Ye Feng''s wheelchair was right in the center of the grand hall, his words and manner bearing an unmistakable haughtiness.


    Yet, these very words set everyone off, as they bristled with indignation.


    Qitian Gate, the bootlicker, roared angrily, "Who do you think you are, spouting such insolent bravado, demanding the deacone out to meet you! Have you looked in the mirror, you worthless Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, do you think you''re worthy?"


    "Exactly, the deacon has not yet rested well, who would dare disturb him!"


    "This brat, he''s truly be wildly arrogant!"


    The many high-ranking officials of the Divine Doctor Sect in the hall were righteously incensed, spewing usations.


    By now, representatives of a few major families, including Cui Hao, had also entered, but since this was the headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the Provincial City, they, being outsiders, naturally did not presume to intervene directly.


    Cui Hao pondered for a moment before stating, "Master Pang, why bother talking nonsense with this man? Don''t forget the main point of calling this meeting!"


    "Indeed, the focus of this meeting is to discuss this brat''s theft of Master Pang''s revered Medical Acupuncture Technique!"


    Master Pang slowly rose to his feet, walked over to Ye Feng, and said with a smile, "I suppose Mr. Ye has also heard, my master, the former Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect of the Southern River Region, passed awayst year, but he left behind a Needle Technique!"


    "ording to him, this Needle Technique could expel all the poisons in the world, an incredibly mystical technique. My master originally intended to pass it on to me, but due to negligence, it was stolen a year ago."


    Qitian Gate, the toady, immediately interjected coldly, "What more is there to say? Surely, it must be this Ye with the surname, the Frenzied Son-in-Law of the Hong Family, who stole Master Pang''s revered Medical Acupuncture Technique!"


    Luo Keque rebutted coldly, "Qitian Gate, you keep using Mr. Ye of theft, but do you have evidence? Without evidence, it is nder and defamation!"


    Qitian Gate barked, "You petty city-level Vice Sect Leader, when did it be your turn to speak here?"


    Cui Hao sneered, "It''s not that we necessarily think it was this young man Ye Feng who stole the revered Needle Technique of Master Pang, we simply have our suspicions. Isn''t that why we''ve convened this meeting, to verify the matter?"


    Pang Youze scoffed, "Verify? How can such a thing be verified?"


    "Very simple, have Mr. Ye perform the technique right here in front of everyone, and see if it matches my master''s. If it does, then it''s settled!" Pang Dahai dered, taking it for granted.


    Ye Feng looked up at him and said, "To perform it in front of you, you are not worthy to watch!"


    "What did you say?" Qitian Gate red up again.


    For some reason, Luo Keque felt a great sense of relief and joy upon hearing this; after all, up to now, he had been the first and only one privileged to witness Ye Feng perform the Phoenix Returns to Heaven Needle Technique, and not just once.


    ```


    "You''re not qualified to watch, I see you, boy, are clearly guilty like a thief!" Cui Hao said, smirking mockingly.


    "Exactly, this kid is guilty like a thief. His unwillingness to perform the skill in front of everyone means he must have stolen it!"


    "Boy, while the steward officer has not arrived, you should quickly confess your crimes and admit your despicable thievery. The Divine Doctor Sect is forgiving and magnanimous; perhaps we can still spare you!"


    The so-called high-ranking officials of the Divine Doctor Sect used one after another, looking righteously indignant as if they had already concluded that Ye Feng hadmitted theft.


    The scene turned chaotic, and Pang Dahai slightly waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, then walked up to Ye Feng.


    "Mr. Ye, given that you''re a small figure, here''s the deal: the Divine Doctor Sect has always beenpassionate and generous. Just willingly hand over that acupuncture technique to me, and as Sect Master, I assure you, I will let bygones be bygones for what happened before. How about it?"


    Pang Dahai''s face was brimming with a smile, as if he was certain that Ye Feng wouldply.


    Ye Feng also smiled, looked up and said, "A small figure? You call me a small figure, so does that mean you consider yourself a big shot?"


    Pang Dahai instantlyughed heartily and said, "I dare not im that. I don''t dare to call myself a big shot, but I can say that in this Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, I do count as a person of status."


    As the loyalckey he was, Luo Keque immediately said, "Master Pang, you are being too modest. If someone of your status and stature is considered a small figure, then what does that make us¡ªwe wouldn''t even qualify as figures at all, would we?"


    "Exactly, exactly..."


    "Master Pang is being modest!" Numerous high-ranking officials of the Divine Doctor Sect echoed and bootlicked in quick session.


    Pang Dahai felt quite pleased with himself and thought that Luo Keque, this cur, really knew how to tter insightfully. Once this matter was dealt with, he might as well transfer him to the Provincial City to be his side as a Vice Sect Leader.


    "Mr. Ye, have you given proper thought to my previous proposal?"


    Master Pang suddenly emphasized his tone and scoffed, "You''d better make a decision before the steward officer appears because once the steward officer intervenes, there will be no room for turning back. A smart man like you must surely know the consequences!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ye Feng said, "Just go tell that steward, someone named Ye Feng wants to see him. He''s got five minutes to show up in front of me, or else he can forget about being this so-called steward."


    "Hahaha..." Luo Keque burst intoughter on the spot.


    The crowd also followed with a greatugh, as if they had heard the biggest joke in the world.


    Pang Dahai''s face darkened, and he huffed, "Boy, you don''t know how to appreciate favors or understand the situation. So be it, then you can''t me me."


    "Considering the steward officer should be well-rested by now, I will go and invite him to deal with this!"


    After speaking, Master Pang turned and walked out through a side door into the inner courtyard.


    He had intentionally arranged for the steward officer to rest, partly as a benefit to the steward and partly to use the time to pressure Ye Feng into voluntarily handing over the medical acupuncture technique.


    If things went as nned, Pang Dahai would have the initiative, and he would no longer have to share the needle technique with the steward. When it came time to treat the great family head for Gu and Poison, he would undoubtedly reap most of the benefits.


    But despite all his calctions, even having brought in a high-ranking official from the capital, this mad son-inw from the Hong Family, Ye Feng, remained unyielding.


    Cui Hao, witnessing this, muttered to himself: "From the looks of it, the deal should be done; now, all that''s left is for the steward to make an appearance!"

 Chapter 79 I am blind!

    The crowd in the hall did not have to wait long before the deacon from the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the imperial city made his appearance.


    Fluttering unsteadily, supported by two beautiful young women, the deacon was draped in a brocade robe, exuding an intoxicating aura ofzy indolence.


    He appeared to be around fifty years old, with beady eyes set into a small face, and whiskers that made his visage seem quiteical.


    Just as he was crossing the threshold, the deacon stumbled on the doorstep, nearly tumbling to the ground.


    Yet no one dared tough. The members of the Divine Doctor Sect all rose to greet him, for after all, he was a deacon from the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect in the imperial city, wielding considerable power.


    "Honestly, if someone dares to steal the Medical Acupuncture Technique of the Divine Doctor Sect, just arrest them. Why bother dragging me out here?" The deacon was quite impatient and somewhat angry.


    He had been looked after by two young women and indulged infort; he really did not want to leave that behind.


    Pang Dahai could only reply with a bitter smile, "Forgive me, Deacon, but we had to involve you since the other party refuses to confess, and their attitude is extremely bad. It seems only you have the ability to suppress them and make them bow their heads in admission of guilt."


    The deacon snorted coldly, "Who has the audacity tomit theft and then refuse to confess? Just grab them, and if they won''t confess, beat them with a stick until they do and hand over that Medical Acupuncture Technique, isn''t that straightforward?"


    Pang Dahai said with a smile, "Since the Deacon has spoken, I will follow your instructions and arrest this person, shall I?"


    "Do just that, grab them now, immediately, and beat them until they confess. Don''t waste my damn time; afterward, I still need to go back to sleep," said the so-called deacon, not forgetting to sneak grins at the two young women by his side.


    With the Deacon''smand, Pang Dahai straightened his back, cleared his throat, and was about to take action.


    At this moment, Ye Feng spoke up with a mockingugh, "I was wondering who it could be, turns out it''s you, ck Rat. Here I am; if you''ve got the guts, try to arrest me and beat me to death."


    "Rascal!"


    The deacon was immediately furious. Although his nickname was ck Rat, because he indeed resembled a rat, not many dared to call him that to his face, except for a few high-ranking officials in the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect.


    "Is it you,d? Stealing the Medical Acupuncture Technique of the Divine Doctor Sect, this is outrageous! You''vemitted a capital offense; do you know that? Someone! What are you dawdling for? Capture this youngster for me and we''ll start with fiftyshes!"


    The deacon then waved his hand, an authoritative gesture as thoughmanding an army.


    Pang Dahai nodded slightly, and several experts from the Divine Doctor Sect who had been waiting rushed forward.


    Ye Feng''s expression remained unchanged, seated in his wheelchair in the center of the hall, eyes sharp as a de, staring at the deacon as he enunciated, "ck Rat, you better open your small eyes wide and see who I am!"


    Qitian Gate roared in anger at this sight, "This Frenzied Son-in-Law of the Hong Family is truly incorrigible, even bold enough to be insolent in front of the Deacon. He must be severely punished!"


    The deacon had not cared initially, and due to his recent exertions with the two women, he was physically drained and his eyesight not at its best, so he hadn''t really nced at anyone carefully since entering.


    In his mind, among those in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, only the heads of the Four Great Families warranted a second nce from him.


    However, he suddenly found the voice familiar; not just the voice, but the tone of speech seemed reminiscent of something he had heard before.


    So he hurriedly looked closely, and upon recognizing the person, felt a chill run down his spine and his legs softened.


    As it happened, at that moment, several experts from the Divine Doctor Sect had already charged forward, ready toy hands on the one sitting in the wheelchair.


    The deacon, trembling all over but still a high-ranking official in the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect and a Master of Inner Force, said nothing more. He quickly stepped forward, first kicking the nearest expert from the Divine Doctor Sect onto the ground, then with a punch, he sent another flying, and with a swift kick of his hand, he flung the remaining thug away.


    The sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned, utterly confounded by the Deacon''s sudden outburst.


    ```


    Pang Dahai couldn''t help stepping forward and said, "Deacon, what has happened to you... You have it wrong, our enemy is the one sitting in the wheelchair..."


    "Wrong your grandma..."


    With a roar, the deacon pped Pang Dahai across the face, "You say he is the enemy? His grandma''s, I see you, Pang Pighead, as my enemy!"


    Still furious, the deacon kicked out at Pang Dahai''s lower abdomen, sending him tumbling to the ground, legs in the air.


    Pang Dahai was baffled; as a Master of Inner Force, he could have avoided the kick, but he couldn''t, so he had to ept this nameless disaster.


    Qitian Gate''sckey was ever sopetent, rushing over to try and support Pang Dahai.


    The deacon from the imperial capital was burning with rage. Without saying another word, he kicked again, flipping Qitian Gate onto the ground.


    Everyone present was stunned, clueless about what madness had struck this rat-like fellow.


    Among all present, only Ye Feng remained unfazed, as if he had foreseen this scene unfolding.


    After doing all this, the deacon straightened his clothes, which shocked everyone further; he suddenly knelt before Ye Feng.


    "Lord Ye, I was blind and did not recognize you immediately. Please, I beg for your punishment!" the deacon wailed at Ye Feng''s feet.


    Gulp¡­


    Pang Dahai felt a sinking feeling in his heart, as if he''d fallen into an abyss; a chill surged from his feet to his head.


    "It''s over, it''s all over now... I''ve kicked the iron board!" Pang Dahai inwardly cried out.


    Among those present, there were many who shared this sentiment, including Qitian Gate, whose face turned ashen.


    Cui Hao, on the other hand, sensed that something was terribly wrong.


    The Yan Family representative whispered, "This man with the surname Ye... he''s going to suffer now. I never imagined that he..."


    "It''s over. Considering how we''ve offended him, our Family Head is probably beyond help now!"


    Cui Hao muttered coldly, "Thinking about saving the Family Head at this time is pointless. We should be nning for whates next. If we''re not careful, the entire n could suffer repercussions!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Everyone felt a wave of headache wash over them.


    Ye Feng, looking down upon them, said, "Having eyes but failing to recognize Mount Tai, it''s not exactly your fault, but it''s fortunate that you still recognized me."


    The deacon trembled with fear, fortunate indeed to have recognized him; otherwise, he would likely have paid with his life today.


    Hey prostrate, not daring to lift his head: "Lord Ye, with your awe-inspiring presence and dignified bearing, you astonish both heaven and earth. Although I''ve only seen you once before, it is something... it is something I dare not forget for all eternity!"


    Though aware of his mistake, it never hurt tovish praise in such situations. At this moment, the deacon bitterly regretted not being better at his literary studies, which would have allowed him to list even moreplimentary idioms.


    Ye Feng said in a deep voice, "What is your name?"


    "In front of you, Lord, I dare not mention my own unworthy name. Since you just called me ck Rat, then let me be known as ck Rat!"


    The ck Rat Deacony on the ground. Ye Feng hadn''t instructed him to rise, so he didn''t dare to lift his head.


    ```

 Chapter 80 Sir, I know I was wrong!

    Everyone in the hall at that time dared not even breathe heavily, silently watching Ye Feng.


    Ye Feng''s expression was calm as he said, "Since you already know that you have made a mistake, let''s hear what mistakes you have made."


    The ck Rat Deacon immediately felt like he was facing a formidable enemy, knowing this was hisst chance¡ªif he didn''t answer correctly, he was likely finished today.


    Although he had only seen the other party from a distance at a high-profile conference of the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect, that was enough for him to know how terrifying the identity of the person was.


    Even though this person held no official position in the Divine Doctor Sect, even the three Old Divine Doctors of the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect treated him with the utmost respect, let alone the Sect Master of the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect, a personage like a whirlwind in the Imperial Capital, was also extremely respectful in front of this man.


    The ck Rat Deacon could never have imagined that such a shocking and mysterious figure would suddenly appear in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province without any prior knowledge on his part.


    After weighing his options, the ck Rat Deacon could only honestly say, "Replying to Lord Ye, the crimes I havemitted are threefold."


    "First, I should not have blindly trusted Pang Dahai''s nder of others'' theft; second, I should not have epted benefits under the table from Pang Dahai; third, I was arrogant and impolite, without regard for others, losing the humility and decorum of our Sect''s rules, and also forgetting the oath of our Divine Doctor Sect to heal the world!"


    Ye Feng couldn''t help but smile, "You are quite clear about your own mistakes."


    The ck Rat Deacon said, "This humble one is well aware that he cannot escape his crimes, and I ask for your punishment, my lord!"


    He made no attempt to excuse his misdemeanors, for he knew that any attempt to hide or shift me would only make things worse in front of such a person.


    "Stand up and speak!" ordered Ye Feng.


    The ck Rat Deacon immediately breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had managed to save his own life.


    Ye Feng continued, "A petty deacon such as yourself isn''t worth me notifying the Headquarters. You know what you should do after you go back, right? No need for me to teach you again?"


    Staggering to his feet, the ck Rat Deacon said repeatedly, "No need, no need, it''s not worth troubling you over such a small matter, my lord. After I return, I will resign from the position of deacon and, to make up for my mistakes, I am willing to donate half of my earnings over the years to the Divine Doctor Sect, to help support those in need."


    Ye Feng nodded and said nothing more, as the other party''s admission and realization of his mistakes were not too disappointing, and he did not care to dwell on them any further.


    "Pang Pighead, still ying dead?" Ye Feng frowned.


    Pang Dahai felt as if he had been struck by lightning, trembling all over, and after a moment of shock, he crawled over like a dead dog.


    "Mr. Ye, oh no, Lord Ye, it was I who was blind and ignorant, it was I who harbored greed, aiming to covet the Medical Acupuncture Technique of a great person, my master had actually never, ever had a copy of the Medical Acupuncture Technique, it was all rumors started by me, I beg your forgiveness, my lord!"


    Ye Feng shook his head and sighed, "I am not angry that you ndered me, but do you know what truly enrages me about your actions?"


    "Could it be because I attempted to falsely use you, and also disrespected and offended you..."


    Pang Dahai slightly raised his head only to find the youth''s sharp gaze piercing him, and his heart immediately started trembling, "I don''t know, beyond that, I truly don''t know, I beg you to enlighten me, my lord!"


    The ck Rat Deacon, standing silently by the side, inwardly sighed, feeling a sense of frustration at this foolish old man who still hadn''t realized his mistakes even at this juncture¡ªit was simply beyond hope.


    "You truly don''t know where you went wrong?"


    Explore hidden tales at empire


    Ye Feng sighed softly and said, "Then you should be punished. Seventeen, break one of his arms!"


    At themand, Seventeen moved instantly and pounced directly.


    Pang Dahai wanted to dodge, but seeing ck Rat vigorously shaking his head at him, he ultimately endured and did not evade.


    Of course, even if he wanted to evade, he would not have managed to. With a crack, Pang Dahai''s right arm was twisted off, and the quiet hall suddenly erupted with wails like that of a ughtered pig.


    Ye Feng said sternly, word by word, "As the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect of the Southern River Region''s Provincial City, you hold a high position but do not consider the suffering of the people; you even cast aside the benevolent heart of a healer from the Divine Doctor Sect, only knowing how to cunningly seize and tter those above you."


    "The most important thing is, you showed no remorse in the end. Tell me, do you deserve punishment? Do you admit your mistake?"


    ck Rat sighed. He knew that if the other party hade to his senses sooner and admitted his wrongs like he did, at worst he might only lose his position as Sect Master and not face punishment. After all, a person like Lord Ye wouldn''t take him too seriously.


    But on second thought, all this was Pang Dahai''s own fault and he deserved his punishment!


    "I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong," he pleaded. "This lowly one will resign from the position of Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect immediately and will donate all the wealth gained through extortion over the years. I beg for your forgiveness, sir!"


    Ye Feng then nodded slightly and turned to ck Rat, "Go back and tell that person to remove Pang Dahai from his positions as Sect Master in both Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect and the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan. The position of Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect of Southern River Region Jiangnan is vacant.


    Let Luo Keque, the former Vice Sect Leader of the Jiangdu Divine Doctor Sect, serve as the acting Sect Master. If he passes the six-month probation period, he can officially take over as Sect Master!"


    After these words, Ye Feng instructed Hong Qingyan to wheel him away.


    It was then that ck Rat reacted and immediately sped his hands, "Understood, Lord Ye. I will convey your message faithfully. Farewell, my lord!"


    The wheelchair slowly passed by representatives of several major families like Cui Hao, and wherever Ye Feng went, they all bowed their heads, not daring to make eye contact with him.


    It was only after Ye Feng hadpletely left the hall and disappeared from sight that everyone let out a long sigh. The aura exuding from him had almost made their throats dry and their legs weaken.


    Some timeter, Cui Hao said to himself, "Who exactly is this Ye, to possess such influence?"


    Qitian Gate stood up and said in a cold voice, "Even if he has some background, he can''t just directly dictate the staffing of the entire Divine Doctor Sect, can he?"


    "You despicable cur..." Anger surged in ck Rat, and heshed out with another kick, knocking Qitian Gate to the ground on the spot.


    "Cur, I know you all are very dissatisfied in your hearts, and some of you might even be thinking of seeking revenge on him. But let me tell you, unless you think your life is too long, don''t provoke him again!" he chided them.


    Pang Dahai, clutching his broken arm, gritted his teeth and snarled, "Now that things havee to this, you should at least tell us who this kid really is!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Who is he?" ck Ratughed ruefully, shaking his head, "I must tell you, even I don''t know the specifics of his background."


    Upon hearing this, everyone became furious, thinking to themselves, if you don''t know his background, how could you kowtow to him so subserviently?


    ck Rat continued, "However, there is one thing I can tell you. Even though I only met him once a year ago, at that time, three Elders of the Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect, even the two Vice Sect Leaders of the Divine Doctor Sect, all bowed and paid their respects to him!"


    "And, even the Sect Master of the Headquarter of the Divine Doctor Sect, in his presence, could only behave like a following little brother. As for his identity, I dare not specte or imagine anymore. If you think you''re capable, you can investigate on your own!"


    Having said that, ck Rat dusted off his bottom and walked away, leaving the rest with faces full of shock and disbelief.

 Chapter 81 Gifting You a Clock as a Birthday Present

    With ck Rat''s departure, the high-ranking members of the major families from Southern River Region Jiangdu, represented by Cui Hao, also swiftly left the Divine Doctor Sect, as staying there had lost its significance.


    "Head of the Cui Family, what should we do next?" a representative of the Yan Family asked.


    "You''re asking me? Who should I ask?" Cui Hao rolled his eyes.


    Despite more than two hours having passed, Cui Hao still couldn''t forget the gaze of the man in the wheelchair¡ªthe sharpness of those eyes was truly terrifying.


    Even though Ye Feng didn''t cause them any trouble on the spot while they were in the Divine Doctor Sect''s reception hall, Cui Hao knew it wasn''t because the other party didn''t dare to¡ªit was disdain!


    It was the kind of disdain only a highly esteemed person would have. And until the moment they left, Ye Feng hadn''t even bothered to give them a second nce, treating them as if they were air.


    "Sigh... If only we had known, we wouldn''t have offended that guy with the surname Ye. If we were willing to lower our stance from the start and beg him, our family head would surely have been treated early like the Pang Family and gotten rid of the Gu and Poison," a representative of a second-tier familymented with regret.


    Cui Hao snorted coldly, "What''s the use of saying this now? If it were useful, would I still be here?"


    "Indeed, regret is useless now," said the representative of the Yan Family. "Everyone think of a solution. Several family heads won''tst many days, and they are all unconscious without having arranged their affairs. The session of the group isn''t settled yet. If they die like this, the families will surely descend into chaos."


    After pondering for a while, Cui Hao huffed, "In any case, that Ye Feng kid is someone we shouldn''t provoke anymore, at least we shouldn''t. This kid has a very mysterious background. If there''s someone in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province who can overpower him, it''s probably only the Martial Alliance."


    "That''s right, the Martial Alliance gathers almost all the experts from our Southern River Region. As long as the Martial Alliance is willing to take action, they''ll definitely be able to deal with that kid!" someone immediately agreed.


    "This Ye Feng kid ¨C I reckon his formidable aspect is rted to the capital''s Headquarters of the Divine Doctor Sect. He might even be the young master of one of those Aristocratic n Gates!" Discover hidden tales at empire


    "That''s a possibility!" The Yan Family representative sneered, "Although this kid is disabled, just think about it ¨C he''s followed by an attendant who is a Grandmaster of Inner Force. It would certainly seem that only those Aristocratic n Gates from the capital possess such a foundation."


    "Right, Deputy Patriarch Yan, now that you mention it, it all makes sense. Only those ancient Aristocratic ns from the capital could have such a foundation, and this kid is probably a direct lineage young master who, due to his disability, couldn''t inherit his family and therefore left for our Southern River Region."


    In a small conference room, representatives of the great families spected, of course, these were just their assumptions.


    Cui Hao slowly narrowed his eyes, pondering, "If he really is a direct lineage young master of an Aristocratic n Gate, then things could be easier."


    "Oh? So, Brother Cui, you have a clue?" asked the representative of the Yan Family.


    "One thing we must understand," Cui Hao said as he slowly rose to his feet, "is that although this Ye surname kid is a direct lineage young master of a worldly Aristocratic n Gate from the capital, because he is disabled, he has obviously lost his status as an heir and has even been abandoned by his family!"


    "Now I understand what Brother Cui is saying!" The Yan Family representative nodded, "Considering such a direct lineage young master has been abandoned, even if he dies out there, his family probably won''t take it too seriously."


    "However, there''s a precondition ¨C we can''t be too ostentatious; after all, no matter what, he is an Aristocratic young master. If he were to be killed just like that, it would be hard for his family to save face. Therefore, we need to carry out this matter quietly, and having the Martial Alliance to take action would be best!"


    Cui Hao continued, "Previously, there was news that the Yin Family could treat and get rid of this kind of Gu and Poison and that they would announce it at the Yin Family old Patriarch''s seventieth birthday celebration in two days. Let''s wait for another two days. Once it''s confirmed that the Yin Family can get rid of the Gu and Poison."


    "Then, we''ll have the Martial Alliancepletely eliminate this Ye Feng kid for us. He must die to quench the hatred in my heart!"


    As he said this, Cui Hao clenched his fist and mmed it hard onto the table.


    The representative from the Yan Family said, "If the Martial Alliance takes action, that kid is undoubtedly doomed. However, the current Leader of the Martial Alliance is controlled by the Gusu Murong Family, and no one from the Murong Family has been poisoned by Gu. What if the Leader Murong refuses to act?"


    "Old Thing Murong won''t make a move?"


    Cui Hao snorted coldly, "Although his Murong Family is the Leader, they are also one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan. The saying ''one''s glory is everyone''s glory, one''s loss is everyone''s loss'' applies. If he truly doesn''t want to act, then all our families will unite and put pressure on them!"


    "Exactly, let''s unite, and then the Murong Family will have no choice but toply!" everyone said in unison.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Then it''s settled. In two days, we''ll visit the Yin Family to verify if the rumors about them are true, and then proceed with further actions. I refuse to believe it¡ªjust a young lord from an aristocratic n who came from the imperial capital, what of it? A mighty dragon still doesn''t press a local snake. Acting tough in front of me, if I don''t make sure he''s dead!"


    Cui Hao bared his teeth and his fierce appearance was fully revealed.


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng had returned to his vi by car and was nowzing on the sofa while Hong Qingyan was giving him a massage from behind.


    Luo Keque sat opposite him, but even at this moment, he still felt like it was all a dream. He was about to be the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect, and not just any Sect Master, but the one of Provincial City in Jiangnan Province, not Jiangdu City.


    "Mr. Ye..."


    Luo Keque hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "I''m endlessly grateful for Mr. Ye''s promotion. However, as for my abilities, Mr. Ye is surely aware, to take on the role of Sect Master for the Provincial City''s Divine Doctor Sect, I fear that my capabilities..."


    Before he could finish, Ye Feng interrupted, "You are now at the peak of the Ninth Stage of External Strength, do you think you can break through to be a Huajin Grandmaster in half a year?"


    "Break through to Huajin Grandmaster in half a year? I do have some confidence in that." Luo Keque said.


    "In half a year, if you can break through, I will pass on several Medical Acupuncture Techniques to you. If you can''t, you''ll return to Jiangdu," Ye Feng dered decisively.


    Luo Keque''s expression grew solemn, "Yes, thank you for Mr. Ye''s cultivation. I will do my utmost in these six months. If I still can''t break through, I will roll back to Jiangdu myself, forever ashamed to face Mr. Ye again."


    Ye Feng''s tone suddenly became serious, "Remember, if you be the Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect, you must always bear in mind the four words ''benevolence of a healer.'' I will teach you three medical skills; you must not charge ordinary people, but for officials and nobles, that''s up to you. If you ever vite this, there will be no mercy!"


    "Yes!" Luo Keque stood up straight away, his spine ramrod straight.


    Ye Feng waved his hand, signaling him to sit down, then turned his head to look at Pang Youze and said, "These next two days, go prepare a gift for me."


    "Prepare a gift? May I ask what kind of gift Mr. Ye is nning to prepare?" Pang Youze asked.


    "Get me a bell, a big bell!" Ye Feng said.


    "A big bell? That''s not really a suitable gift to give someone. Who is Mr. Ye nning to give it to?" Pang Youze asked further.


    "Two dayster, it''s the 70th birthday of the old patriarch of the Yin Family. It''s for his birthday gift!" Ye Feng said with a light smile.


    Hiss...


    Upon hearing that, Pang Youze took in a sharp breath.

 Chapter 82 Today, We Can Slaughter the Sheep

    In the following two days, the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province seemed to have entered a state of tranquility, and nobody came to bother Ye Feng, including the Martial Alliance, which also appeared to be quiet.


    Enjoying the rare leisure, over the past two days, Ye Feng and Hong Qingyan got to tour the scenery of Jiangnan. However, during this time, Hong Qingyan''s mood didn''t seem very good, she was reticent, and appeared preupied with heavy thoughts.


    Ye Feng asked twice, but Hong Qingyan merely smiled and said it was nothing, so he didn''t press further.


    After two peaceful days passed, the whole region of Southern River Region Jiangnan appeared to be caught in an undercurrent of unrest.


    Today was the seventieth birthday of the elder patriarch of the Yin Family, one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan, so early in the morning, the ancient gates of the Yin family were flung open.


    The Yin Family also owned an estate in the suburb, ancient and elegant. Just the sight of those fading vermilion gates showed they had weathered many years. Today these long-unopened gates were weing guests who wereing from all directions to celebrate.


    In thest two days, possibly to curry favor with Ye Feng, Pang Youze had nearly exhausted his family''s resources to investigate the Yin Family and made a startling discovery.


    "Are you saying that this Yin Family is connected to some Dao Sects hidden deep in the mountains and forests?" In the vi, Ye Feng frowned slightly.


    "Yes, Mr. Ye, the Yin Family has an ancient lineage, and it seems they possess a breathing technique within their family, whiches from the Daoist Family," said Pang Youze.


    Next to him, Luo Keque pondered and said, "So, it seems that the ancestors of the Yin Family were originally from a Daoist Sect."


    Pang Youze nodded and answered, "Indeed, the ancestor of the Yin Familyter left the Daoist Sect and came to Southern River Region Jiangnan to branch out and grow, relying on what may have been an iplete Daoist breathing technique to rise step by step!"


    Ye Feng remained silent. If what Pang Youze had said was true, the Yin Family indeed seemed unusual, as it was already involved with the Sects of Ancient Martial Arts.


    In this world, there are many things that ordinary people do not know about, or rather, ordinary people have not reached that level, so they cannotprehend. Find more chapters on empire


    But as the Northern Border King, Ye Feng needed to understand far more than ordinary people, and he was aware that there indeed existed Sects of Ancient Martial Arts in this world.


    These Sects of Ancient Martial Arts differ from what the secr world or the market thinks of Shaolin and Wudang. Or rather, what is currently known as Shaolin and Wudang is merely for show; the real Sects of Ancient Martial Arts have retreated behind the scenes and seldom make public appearances.


    Actually, a significant reason for Ye Feng''s current achievements and his status as the Northern Border King was because he had a special breathing technique.


    This technique, the source of which he did not know, was obtained by chance from an old fellow who looked like a beggar while he was in an orphanage.


    Ye Feng remembered exchanging two steamed buns for the other''s breathing technique at the time.


    It was a great and bitterly cold day, and the Old Beggar was huddling in a corner of the park, looking like he was about to starve to death. Ye Feng was only five years old, hiding from the rain under an eave in the park with hispanions from the orphanage.


    He remembered there were several dozenpanions, but only Ye Feng couldn''t bear it, mustered the courage to dash through the rain, and gave the Old Beggar two steamed buns. The Beggar didn''t say a word, just handed him a dirty book containing just three pages of paper.


    As bizarre and absurd as it sounded, it indeed happened to Ye Feng.


    It was thanks to this mere three-page breathing technique that Ye Feng grew step by step, especially after entering the Northern Border, where he quickly stood out and ultimately became the youngest and strongest king of the Four Realms in history.


    It''s even been said by some elders in the kingdom that the Northern Border King will be the most likely to be the War God!


    The War God, the protector of the nation.


    However, what followed was the assassination incident in the Capital Region, something many had not anticipated. It''s likely that many in the kingdom now believe that the Northern Border King has long been dead.


    Ye Feng withdrew his thoughts and asked, "Right now, this Yin Family, do they still have any connections with the Daoist Sects of Ancient Martial Arts?"


    If they really still had connections, then the approach to deal with them would likely need to change.


    Of course, even if they truly had connections, Ye Feng was still unafraid, having achieved the status of Martial King, so what of the Daoist Sects? Should they dare threaten themon folk, he would show no mercy in meting out death!


    Ye Feng''s gaze suddenly emitted two sharp beams of light!


    Pang Youze gave a wry smile: "Regarding this, I''m not sure. With our Pang Family''s capabilities, we still can''t probe into this aspect. But I assume that since the ancestor of the Yin Family left the Daoist Sect, he must have severed that bond of fellowship and likely has no contact anymore, right?"


    Luo Keque also pondered and said, "If there were still connections, with the backing of this Daoist Sect, the Yin Family would probably not be content with merely being one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan. It''s very possible that they would have been the leader of the Four Families already."


    Ye Feng smiled nomittally, thinking to himself that without his emergence, the Yin Family would likely be the leader of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan from this day on.


    Pang Youze said, "Mr. Ye, the Large Bell you requested has been prepared. Shall we go today...?"


    Ye Feng swept his arm broadly, "Let''s go, we''ll head to the Yin Family now!"


    At once, several people headed out, taking a small truck to transport therge bell towards the Yin Family.


    At this very moment, the Yin Family''s residence was already bustling with festive decorations, and some guests had arrived early.


    After all, as one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan, with family businesses spread across the entire Jiangnan Province, the several city-level influential families, all of whom had dealings with the Yin Family, could not afford to miss the opportunity to bring gifts and pay their respects on this birthday celebration.


    The elderly Patriarch Yin, dressed in a bright red robe embossed with the character for fortune, was aglow with health. Although he was over seventy years old, he was full of vigor and robustly healthy.


    To be the head of one of the Four Great Families, one must at least be a Master of Inner Force, and the stronger candidates could even be Huajin Grandmasters. Barring any idents, one could easily live beyond ny or even past a hundred years of age.


    "The Cui Family has arrived..." As the butler''s voice echoed, Cui Hao, apanied by two young family members, got out of the car and walked towards the main entrance.


    Elder Patriarch Yin Songping, followed by his eldest son and grandson, briskly stepped forward to wee them with sped hands, "It''s an honor for an old man like me to receive the visit of the Cui Family, also one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan, on this special day. Your presence brings glory to our family."


    Cui Hao chuckled in a formal manner, "Elder Patriarch Yin is a paragon of virtue. On this important 70th birthday, it would be unthinkable for the younger generation not toe."


    "Deputy Family Head Cui, pleasee inside!" Yin Songping gestured towards the interior and let his eldest son usher the guest in, while he himself stayed to wee other visitors.


    Of course, he would only personally greet the more important guests, and the others would be received by his eldest son or his grandson.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Soon enough, the Yan Family and other second-tier families from Jiangnan also gathered to pay their respects. In the whole Jiangnan Province, only the exceedingly mysterious Gusu Murong Family and the now withdrawn Jiang Family had not made an appearance.


    "Father, most of the guests have arrived, shall we go inside?" Yin Angli, the eldest son of the Yin Family, suggested.


    Yin Songping nodded his head and was about to move when he suddenly remembered something and quickly gestured for his son toe closer, whispering, "Go to the backyard and check if the two honorary masters are ready. Tell them the timing is ripe, and today, they may proceed with the ughter."


    "Yes!"


    Eldest son Yin Angli immediately retreated, his expression revealing barely concealed excitement as he muttered, "If nothing goes wrong, from today on, my Yin Family will be the leader of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan!"

 Chapter 83 You Wont Die If You Dont Seek Death

    "Let''s go, the important guests have arrived, let''s go in!"


    The elder patriarch, Yin Songping, waved his great hand, ready to walk into the bustling manor.


    However, at this moment, a cold shout suddenly echoed: "Ye Feng, Mr. Ye has arrived..."


    The one calling out was not from the Yin Family, for in their eyes, this Mr. Ye wasn''t significant enough to warrant a loud announcement from them.


    The caller was Pang Youze, who obviously knew that Ye Feng hade today intending to stir trouble, so he simply decided to y along.


    The eldest grandson of the Yin Family, the young master Yin Junde, frowned and said, "Ye Feng? Who is this person? Since when did our Jiangnan have a Mr. Ye?"


    The elder patriarch, Yin Songping, also raised an eyebrow but said nothing, clearly he had also never heard of such a person before.


    The butler hastily stepped forward and said, "Could it be that fellow who ims to be the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family of Jiangdu?"


    "The son-inw of the Hong Family of Jiangdu?" Yin Songping frowned.


    Before he could speak, the young master Yin Junde huffed, "A mere son-inw of the insignificant Hong Family of Jiangdu dares to be so loud and put on airs at our Yin Family''s door? He really knows how to give himself face!"


    The butler said, "Young Master, this Frenzied Son-in-Law of the Hong Family is no ordinary man."


    Yin Songping asked, "Let''s hear it, how is he not ordinary?"


    "Recently, he has caused quite a stir in Jiangdu, even the Martial Alliance there has no way to deal with him. Moreover, there are rumors that this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family has killed an elder of the Jiang Family, and just a few days ago, news came that this man can even cure Gu and Poison!"


    "What did you say, he can cure Gu and Poison?"


    Yin Songping was genuinely rmed, his eyes slightly narrowing: "It seems that this man is indeed out of the ordinary, and there''s a good chance today''s event could be disrupted by him!"


    The young master, Yin Junde, sneered, "So what? We have those two masters backing us, why should we fear a mere Mad Son-in-Law of the Hong Family? Besides, our Yin Family is strong in itself, with three Masters of Inner Force, and Grandpa, you are a Great Grandmaster of Huajin Level!"


    Yin Songping''s gaze turned grim, as he pondered, "His intentions are unclear, but what Junde said is correct, our Yin Family is rich in martial prowess, and here in our family base camp, we have nothing to fear. As long as he dares to make trouble, we will make sure he leaves horizontally even if hees in vertically!"


    During their conversation, Ye Feng had already gotten out of the car and sat down in a wheelchair.


    Yin Songping furrowed his brows, "What''s this, a cripple with broken legs?"


    The butler replied with a bitter smile, "I forgot to mention to you, Master, this man is indeed disabled."


    Yin Jundeughed, his cold chuckle conveying indifference: "A cripple, then there''s nothing to worry about. Our Yin Family wees all guests. If he hase sincerely to celebrate, he won''t miss out on a satisfying meal. But if he''s here to cause trouble, hmm..."


    "However... I think this man is likely trying to make connections with our Yin Family. After all, our Yin Family is now extraordinary!"


    A look of pride surged across Yin Junde''s face, especially with the thought of those two experts behind them, he felt even more smug.


    At this moment, Ye Feng had slowly approached the entrance. Yin Songping, seeing this, swiftly put on a weing smile and stepped forward.


    "We are honored by your visit, Mr. Ye; I apologize for not greeting you from afar, how remiss!" Yin Songping said courteously.


    Ye Feng also chuckled, "I''vee uninvited, Elder Patriarch Yin, please don''t take offense!"


    Yin Songping said no more, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly as he looked up into the sky at a 45-degree angle, clearly believing that such a disabled man in a wheelchair, and merely a son-inw of the small Hong Family of Jiangdu, was not worth engaging in conversation.


    Observing the mood, the butler quickly came forward and said, "A guest from afar is a friend. Mr. Ye, since you''ve traveled a long distance to offer birthday wishes, the Yin Family naturally wees you. Please, this way inside!"


    Ye Feng grinned, "Since I''m here to offer birthday wishes, naturally, I wouldn''te empty-handed. Bring up the birthday gift!"


    Yin Junde couldn''t help butugh when he heard this, thinking to himself that this was indeed someone trying to climb up thedder and associate with their prestigious Yin Family. There were quite a few of these kinds of people every year, who showed up uninvited to curry favor.


    However, hisughter quickly froze, only to see two burly men carrying a huge bell walking over at that moment.


    The bell was more than a man''s height, and many guests who were originally lingering at the entrance immediately became abuzz upon seeing this.


    It was a 70th birthday celebration, yet the gift was a bell; this was clearly a challenge!


    Yin Songping''s face changed on the spot, but before he could speak up, Yin Junde next to him couldn''t hold back any longer.


    "This is absolutely outrageous, I say Mr. Ye, what is the meaning of this, sending a bell?" roared Yin Junde in uncontroble anger.


    Considering his status, Yin Songping chose not to speak up, but hisplexion had already turned terrifyingly grim.


    Ye Feng chuckled and said, "What''s wrong, not satisfied, thinking the bell is too small andcks weight? How about I arrange to have an even bigger one sent over another day?"


    "You..." Yin Junde couldn''t help himself and wanted to rush forward to start a fight, but in the end, he was stopped by Yin Songping.


    "Today''s birthday banquet hosts a gathering of guests; let''s not be rude and be aughing stock!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Yin Songping red at his grandson before turning his head and saying with a chuckle, "Mr. Ye''s birthday gift will be graciously epted by this old man. Everyone, pleasee inside. Although my Yin Family cannot be considered a wealthy household, whenever any cats or dogs stray in, we always give them some leftover food."


    Sharp!


    It must be said that this old fellow, having lived for seventy years and weathered many storms, his retort was watertight, and remarkably resolute.


    In other words, he was directly referring to Ye Feng as a stray cat or dog begging for food.


    Ye Feng shrugged and said, "The Yin Family is indeed charitable, not only letting in any cats or dogs but also weing all sorts of questionable characters. One can only hope that these people won''t bring any trouble to the Yin Family." Your next read awaits at empire


    This statement was undoubtedly a warning, and Ye Feng''s words were just as leak-proof.


    Yin Songping''s gaze sharpened, and he thought to himself, could it be that this youngster has discovered something?


    But even if he had discovered something, with things about toe to a fruitful conclusion, what was there to fear from a disabled man causing trouble?


    At this thought, Yin Songping snorted and said, "A visitor is a guest, Mr. Ye, pleasee inside. There are many distinguished guests inside, and I regret I cannot apany you further. Please make yourself at home!"


    After saying this, Yin Songping stepped into the mansion, followed closely by the butler and the eldest son of the Yin Family.


    As soon as he entered the gate, Yin Songping immediately gestured to Yin Junde, "Notify your father to arrange for experts to keep an eye on this young man. If he shows any unusual behavior, have him secretly apprehended."


    Yin Junde snorted coldly, "Grandfather, this guy dares to provoke our Yin Family. In my opinion, we should just take the opportunity to capture him, either beat him to death with random sticks or simply throw him into the South River to feed the fish, why bother talking to him at all."


    Yin Songping waved his hand and said, "You handle it. Just make sure it''s kept under wraps and not too many people find out!"


    Meanwhile, at the entrance, many guests watching the scene couldn''t help but whisper among themselves, "This young man is truly courting death! It''s the old master of the Yin Family''s 70th birthday, and he actually brought a bell as a birthday gift, that''s really..."


    "This man, I think, is either too audacious orpletely brainless. Just wait and see, the Yin Family will not let this slide. He who seeks death cannotin when ites. I guarantee, after today, this man will end up dead or crippled."


    "Maybe it won''te to that. Didn''t Elder Patriarch Yin refrain from making a scene?"


    "What do you know? Not one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan is simple. They didn''t make a scene because they were considering the family''s reputation. Once the birthday banquet is over, this kid will definitely suffer!"


    As Ye Feng listened to these whispering voices around him, he shook his head and smiled faintly, then instructed Hong Qingyan to wheel him into the Yin Family mansion.

 Chapter 84 The Immense Divine Healer of the Mysterious Void Grand Heaven

    The Yin Family Manor was massive, with a bustling front courtyard teeming with guests.


    As soon as Ye Feng entered, he immediately noticed that there were people lurking in the shadows in several corners, watching him. He smiled faintly and couldn''t be bothered with these clowns.


    No one came over to strike up a conversation. Cui Hao and representatives from a few of the other great families were taken aback when they saw him, as they had not expected Ye Feng to attend the event.


    "Deputy Head of the Cui Family, could it be that this youngster with the surname Ye has already colluded with the Yin Family? The rumor put out by the Yin Family previously said they could remove Gu and Poison, could it be referring to this Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family?" a person in charge from a third-rate family asked in a low voice.


    "If that''s really the case, we''ll truly be at a disadvantage," a representative of the Yan Family said through gritted teeth.


    Cui Hao, holding a cup of wine, declined the guests who came to toast him and after scrutinizing for a moment, hummed coldly, "Impossible, thisd surnamed Ye, aftering in, there was no one from the Yin Family toasting him, nor was there anypany of significant figures from the Yin Family."


    "So obviously, this kid surnamed Ye is not familiar with the Yin Family!"


    "That''s right, Deputy Head Cui''s analysis is spot on. With this peace of mind, as long as this youngster doesn''t join hands with the Yin Family, we will have no need for further worries."


    Cui Hao raised an eyebrow and said, "I''m afraid things aren''t that simple. This youngster surnamed Ye, a prominent scion of the Imperial Capital Nobility, if he isn''t close to the Yin Family, why would hee to the birthday celebration without any reason? Everyone be cautious and refrain from acting recklessly!"


    Representatives from seven or eight families nodded slightly, signaling their agreement.


    Ye Feng sat in a corner, leisurely burying his head in the feast as if he truly came just to celebrate.


    Pang Youze and Luo Keque sat in silence beside him, but in their hearts, they were puzzled. After all, Mr. Ye, who had presented a clock to the Elder Patriarch of the Yin Family, clearly came to provoke them, but now he seemed to be acting as if nothing was wrong, an enigma they couldn''t unravel.


    Ye Feng did not rush to make a move, at least not until the disciples of the Gu&Poison Sect appeared.


    Yin Family''s young scion, Yin Junde, though constantly conversing with guests, kept his gaze firmly fixed on Ye Feng, his eyes often revealing a sinister glint.


    As one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan with immense power, the audacity of someone daring to present a clock during the old man''s 70th birthday banquet was nothing short of provocative for the Yin Family. If he hadn''t been concerned about the family''s reputation, he would have acted already.


    "You damned fool, continue eating all you want. Once the birthday feast ends and most of the guests have left, I will make sure you spit it all out, with interest!" Yin Junde thought angrily to himself.


    Hong Qingyan also seemed to sense that something was off in the atmosphere and felt as though there were eyes on her back. After a moment of thought, she said, "Big Brother Ye, I have a feeling that there''s something strange about the atmosphere of this banquet. Should we leave now?"


    Ye Feng chuckled, "The Yin Family, as one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan, offers such a wide array of rare delicacies, all for free. Wouldn''t it be a shame to not eat our fill here and make the Yin Family pay for it?"


    Hong Qingyanughed wryly, "I''m not one for freeloading, and besides, something does feel off, so I don''t really have much of an appetite."


    Ye Feng was about to respond with a smile, but at that moment, two tall and lean figures d in ck and with their faces covered by ck veils walked out, apanied by Yin Songping.


    "Here theye, the aura is unmistakable, it''s definitely the Gu&Poison Sect!" Ye Feng''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Hong Qingyan probably also knew that Ye Feng wouldn''t attend someone else''s birthday banquet without a reason, so she sensibly remained silent at this moment.


    Today, Yin Songping beamed with joy, guiding the two ck-d figures swiftly to where Cui Hao and representatives of the other great families were seated.


    "Come, Brother Cui, allow me to introduce these two masters to you," said Yin Songping with a smile.


    Cui Hao and the others got up, took a look at the oddly dressed, tall, and lean figures, and couldn''t help asking, "May I ask, Patriarch Yin, who are these two?"


    Yin Songpingughed heartily, "I heard that Cui Yan and several other family personages have been afflicted by a strange Gu and Poison. It so happens that I am acquainted with a couple of masters in this field, so three days ago, I used various connections, and managed to finally get in touch with these two masters."


    "As soon as the masters received my message, they immediately rushed over from the Western Region. They only arrived today, so I thought it fitting to introduce them to you all during my father''s birthday banquet."


    The person in charge of the Yan Family, upon hearing this, said with great joy, "So, it''s true what the outside world has been saying; the Yin Family really has a way to remove Gu and Poison? If that''s the case, it''s wonderful news, my big brother is saved!"


    Yin Songpingughed heartily and said, "Honestly, I did not spread those rumors these past few days; after all, I wasn''t sure whether these two masters could make time toe."


    "Then how did the rumors get out?" Cui Hao asked.


    "It was my butler, the old fool was too anxious to treat our family heads and identally let it slip. Afterwards, I thought it best not to speak of it, as I couldn''t guarantee the masters'' arrival, to prevent getting everyone''s hopes up unnecessarily!"


    Yin Songping, saying this, sped his hands together and apologized, "I am truly sorry; it is my fault for not managing my household strictly. I hope you won''t take offense."


    "So that''s how it is; how could we take offense? Elder Patriarch Yin has always been prudent in his actions; of course, we understand," several family representatives said one after another.


    Even though they were quite a distance apart, Ye Feng heard every single word of their conversation clearly and couldn''t help but snort withughter.


    Some so-called masters from the Western Region, Yin Songping really knew how to put on a show, leading Cui Hao and the others around in circles.


    Pity that Cui Hao and the others were in the dark, even treating Yin Songping as a savior; probably not much longer before they wouldn''t be able tough anymore.


    "Oh, I was so preupied with talking, I forgot to introduce them. These two, on the left is Master Mo, and on the right is Grandmaster Li, both from the Western Region. It is their custom there to slightly cover their faces, so I hope you won''t take offense," Yin Songping said with a smile.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Greetings to the two masters!" Cui Hao extended his hand and immediately asked, "Masters, do you truly have a way to remove Gu and Poison?"


    The one on the left, Master Mo, scoffed and said, "It is merely Gu and Poison. We are disciples under the Infinite Divine Doctor of the Great Hanging Cave of the Western Region. Naturally, removing such a trivial Gu and Poison is nothing for us!"


    Pfft...


    Upon hearing this, Ye Feng almost spit out the wine he had sipped.


    Stay tuned to empire


    These disciples of the Gu&Poison Sect really knew how to bluff. The Infinite Divine Doctor of the Great Hanging Cave of the Western Region?


    With such a domineering title, no wonder they easily fooled Cui Hao and the others.


    "That''s wonderful, the masters truly have a solution¡ªour family head is saved!" the representative of the Yan Family eximed with ecstasy.


    Cui Hao nodded emphatically, "Then we shall trouble the two masters to take action. Rest assured, as for the terms, you just name them."


    The representative of the Yan Family said, "Exactly, no matter the cost, just state your price, masters."


    The two Gu&Poison Sect disciples smiled faintly but did not immediately state their demands.


    Seeing this, Yin Songping suggested, "This ce has too many people, too many ears. How about everyone finishes the birthday banquet first, then we proceed to the Inner Courtyard to discuss in detail afterwards?"


    The representative of the Yan Family said, "Elder Patriarch Yin, this matter concerns a human life; how can we have the mood for a birthday banquet? Let''s go directly to the Inner Courtyard, finalize the discussion, and then invite the masters to start the treatment right away."


    Cui Hao also said, "Indeed, it''s not that we wish to be abrupt, but the situation of several family heads cannot afford further dy."


    Yin Songping responded, "If that''s the case, then let us go to the Inner Courtyard to discuss now. As for my birthday banquet, whenpared to the lives of the family heads, it''s naturally unimportant."


    After speaking, Yin Songping led the way, taking Cui Hao and the others, along with the two so-called masters from the Western Region, into the Inner Courtyard.


    Seeing this, Ye Feng shook his head secretly. Cui Hao and the others were clearly walking right into the tiger''s mouth!

 Chapter 85 What Kind of Trash Are You

    Ye Feng still hadn''t moved, first because he wasn''t yet full, and second, because the time hadn''te.


    He would not make a move until these two so-called masters from the Western Region revealed their true colors.


    The hall was still bustling with activity, as the Yin Family was indeed one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan. There were many people who came to offer birthday wishes, even representatives from family ns from various smaller cities below.


    Ye Feng was enjoying his meal when Hong Qingyan suddenly pointed ahead and said, "Big Brother Ye, look, those two have actuallye as well."


    Following the direction of Hong Qingyan''s finger, Ye Feng immediately saw Hong Yuting. Dressed invish clothing, she was proudly clinging to a tall and handsome young man, looking as triumphant as possible.


    Behind the couple, a group of young men and women surrounded them, seemingly with the tall and handsome young man as their leader, suggesting his high status.


    Ye Feng simply shook his head and smiled faintly, paying it no mind.


    By coincidence, Hong Yuting also looked their way, her entire demeanor freezing for a moment before she curled her lips into a cold, mocking smile, her eyes showing undisguised malice.


    "Young Master Murong, do you know about that person sitting in the wheelchair over there?" Hong Yuting asked the tall man in a coffee-colored suit beside her.


    "Oh? Who is he, to gain the attention of Jiangdu''s number one beauty like this?" Young Master Murong asked with a smile.


    Hong Yuting merely sneered slightly and was about to speak when Yin Junde, the elder son of the Yin Family seated beside her, hurriedly interjected, "Young Master Murong, you actually don''t know this person?"


    Young Master Murong looked even more surprised and said, "Howe even Young Master Yin is so astonished? When did our Southern River Region Jiangnan produce such a character?"


    Yin Junde sighed and said, "Young Master Murong truly has lived a reclusive life. You haven''t even heard of the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family during this time."


    Originally, Yin Junde was still struggling to find an excuse to trouble Ye Feng and vent the frustration of being humiliated by him, but now, upon seeing the Gusu Murong Young Master, an idea immediately came to his mind.


    "It seems that Young Master Murong hasn''t heard of this person. Let''s go over, and I will introduce him to you," said Yin Junde, who then unceremoniously dragged the Gusu Murong Young Master over. Your next journey awaits at empire


    In his speech, Yin Junde showed some wariness towards Young Master Murong, and naturally, Young Master Murong wasn''t just anybody. He was the Young Master Murong Qinglong from Gusu Murong, the strongest among the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan.


    For Elder Patriarch Yin''s seventieth birthday, the older generation of the Murong Family didn''t attend but sent the younger Murong Qinglong as a representative. After all, the Murong Family was originally stronger than the Yin Family, and the current Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan was the Head of the Gusu Murong Family.


    "Well then, let''s go and see what this person is all about!" Murong Qinglong smiled slightly, and under the escort of the crowd, he started to make his way over.


    Hong Qingyan, seeing this, couldn''t help but anxiously say, "Big Brother Ye, they''reing over."


    Ye Feng still smiled faintly and said, "No need to mind them, let''s just enjoy our meal."


    Hong Qingyan was instinctively a bit nervous, but seeing Ye Feng''s calm demeanor, she immediately rxed.


    "Well, this is a pleasant surprise, to think we would encounter you here. I would never have expected that you would be able to attend the Yin Family''s birthday banquet?"


    Hong Yuting stepped forward and began speaking first, and after she finished, she did not forget to turn to Yin Junde and ask, "Young Master Yin, are these two familiar with your Yin Family?"


    Yin Junde couldn''t help butugh, "Close to my Yin Family? No, no, no, in fact, I don''t know these two people at all. They had absolutely no connection with my Yin Family before."


    Hong Yuting blinked her eyes in mockery and said, "If you''re not close, why would theye to wish for a long life? Could it be they want to curry favor with the Yin Family? Or perhaps they''re hoping to take advantage of the situation and eat and drink for free?"


    Yin Junde replied seriously, "Though my Yin Family can''t be considered a wealthy n, favor is not so easily sought. However, I like to think that we''re generous and charitable. We always provide leftovers to the poor, and even any cats or dogs thate knocking at our door, especially today since it''s my grandfather''s seventieth birthday."


    Hearing this, Hong Yuting couldn''t help but burst intoughter. The two of them were so in sync with their insults, fitting together seamlessly.


    Hong Qingyan was feeling some appetite, but at this point, she couldn''t eat anymore. She turned her head to look at Ye Feng.


    But at that moment, Ye Feng didn''t look up and continued to eat with gusto.


    Hong Yuting pouted and muttered, "Such a bumpkin, acting as if he''s never seen the world. Our Hong Family''s face has been lost all the way to Jiangnan."


    Murong Qinglong asked, "What''s the matter, Yu Ting? Is he one of your Hong Family members?"


    sping his arm, almost rubbing her soft chest against him, Hong Yuting giggled, "Don''tugh, Brother Murong. This person is my sister, not a real sister though. She was picked up by our Hong Family. And the one beside her is her fiance, our Hong Family''s son-inw."


    Murong Qinglong nodded and extended his hand, "Hello, I am Zhuge Qingyun. It''s a pleasure to meet you."


    Ye Feng didn''t look up and just said, "All of you back off, don''t disturb my meal!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Murong Qinglong''s brow furrowed deeply, considering that he, the Gusu Murong Young Master, was among the three famed ''Young Dragons'' of Jiangnan, and he was the leader of those three.


    "My friend," he said, "considering Yu Ting''s feelings, I greeted you politely, but not only have you not reciprocated, you''ve not even stood up, and you''ve even uttered such words. Aren''t you being a bit too arrogant?"


    Murong Qinglong snorted coldly, unable to imagine someone in his generation in the Provincial City of Jiangnan daring to be more arrogant than him.


    Of course, Murong Qinglong was unaware that Young Master Jiang Tianlong of the Jiang Family, also touted as one of the three great Young Dragons of Jiangnan, had already been crippled by Ye Feng, even losing his capability as a man.


    If Young Master Murong knew that, he probably wouldn''t have thought the same way.


    Hong Yutingughed and said, "It seems, Brother Murong, you haven''t realized that this ''Mad Son-in-Law'' of our Hong Family is originally a cripple with broken legs. Such a person who can''t even take care of himself ¨C how can you expect him to stand up?"


    Murong Qinglong scoffed, "So he''s a cripple, no wonder then. Naturally, I wouldn''t stoop to arguing with someone who can''t take care of themselves; wouldn''t that make me look tasteless?"


    Yin Junde added fuel to the fire, "But Young Master Murong, even if he''s a cripple, we wouldn''t take offense to that, yet he just told us to get lost. That''s going too far. I don''t mind, since today is my grandfather''s seventieth birthday banquet, but with your status, letting it go just like that...


    If word gets out, wouldn''t that imply any cats or dogs can disrespect the three great Young Dragons of Jiangnan?"


    Hong Yuting also nodded in agreement, "Brother Murong, I think Young Master Yin''s point is very reasonable. Even though we all know of your magnanimity and not stooping to others'' levels, that guy was just too rude and arrogant."


    "In my opinion, he has to apologize!"


    Murong Qinglong slightly nodded and then picked up a bottle of wine, swiftly pouring three sses. He said, "Kid, considering you''re a cripple, I won''t make things difficult for you. Drink these three sses of wine, and we''ll consider the matter settled!"


    Ye Feng stopped eating, havingpletely lost his appetite. He slowly put down his chopsticks, looked up at Young Master Murong, and said word by word, "What do you think you are, not to mention who you are, even if your grandfather, who became the Leader of the Martial Alliance of Jiangnan, came here, he would still not be qualified to pour me wine!"

 Chapter 86 Stirring Trouble atop the Tai Suis Head

    Murong Qinglong was furious, with veins bulging on his face. It was bad enough that this person didn''t take him seriously.


    Now, he had even dared to utter such words, showing disrespect not just to himself, but to his grandfather as well¡ªand even iming that his grandfather wasn''t worthy of serving him wine!


    Murong Qinglong could no longer tolerate it. Unfortunately, he was unaware of Ye Feng''s true identity. Had he known, he would never have thought Ye Feng''s words to be mere arrogance.


    A former Northern Border King, the behind-the-scenes founder of the Martial Alliance, a mere leader of the Provincial Martial Alliance in a small city indeed had no right to drink with him!


    Murong Qinglong turned his head and barked at Yin Junde, "Young Master Yin, despite today being your grandfather''s grand seventieth birthday, and I shouldn''t be causing trouble at his banquet, you heard it yourself¡ªthis kid is extremely arrogant."


    Yin Junde smiled. In his heart, he couldn''t wait for Murong Qinglong to pick a fight, even better if it blew up into a bigger issue.


    "Brother Long, as I said earlier, this so-called Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family is not a guest of the Yin Family. He''s just a small-time son-inw from a Jiangdu family. Although the Yin Family isn''t a noble n, we certainly don''t treat just any cats or dogs as guests."


    Yin Junde''s faint smile implied one thing: go ahead and start the fight.


    "I see!"


    Murong Qinglong snorted and gestured with his hand, immediately causing three middle-aged men to walk over to them.


    Ye Feng remained seated in his wheelchair, his expression unchanged.


    "Brother Long, what can I do for you?" a muscr man with a full beard asked, bowing his head.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Pointing at Ye Feng, Murong Qinglong said, "Martial Instructor, this brat is disrespectful to everyone, not only offending me but also showing disrespect to my grandfather. He even boasted that my grandfather isn''t worthy of even holding his shoes. What do you think should be done about this?"


    The burly Martial Instructor exuded a murderous aura, ring at Ye Feng with hisrge, copper bell-like eyes, "Kid, is what Brother Long said true?"


    Ye Feng looked up at him but didn''t reply. He seldom answered others'' questions but was quick to ask, "Are you one of the four great instructors of the Jiangnan Martial Alliance?"


    The Martial Instructor snorted coldly, "Yes, I am indeed one of the four great instructors of the Jiangnan Martial Alliance, the Martial Steel Instructor. Now I ask you, is what Brother Long said true?"


    Ye Feng shook his head, "I did not say those words."


    Murong Qinglong was about to rebuke him for being cowardly.


    However, before he could speak, Ye Feng calmly continued, "What I mean is, your young master''s grandfather, oh right, the current Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan Province, if he truly came here, I wouldn''t let him hold my shoes because he isn''t even worthy of licking them."


    "You''re courting death!"


    The Martial Steel Instructor exploded in rage, "You little brat, how dare you insult Leader Murong! You truly don''t know whether to live or die. In consideration of today being the seventieth birthday of Patriarch Yin, I will cripple your hands first and then hand you over to the Alliance Hierarch for punishment!"


    Ye Feng, no longer even bothering to look at him, turned andmanded, "Seventeen, extract all his rotten teeth first!"


    "Yes!" Seventeen moved instantly, vaulting over the table, charging at the Martial Instructor.


    The Martial Instructor only felt darkness before his eyes as if a fierce tiger was pouncing down from a high ce, the speed terrifying.


    But after all, he was one of the four great instructors of the Jiangnan Martial Alliance, a Master of Inner Force in his own right, with quick reflexes. In a critical moment, he swiftly sidestepped backward.


    However, he had underestimated his opponent. Just as he moved, a great hand struck out.


    With a p!


    The loud, crisp smacknded on his face, staggering him, and Seventeen followed with a kick that sent him tumbling to the ground.


    Following that, a series of smacking sounds echoed, as Seventeen''s Great Hand struck repeatedly, instantly leaving the Martial Instructor spitting out broken teeth, with his face swelling up significantly.


    It wasn''t until all his front teeth were shattered that Seventeen finally stopped.


    At this point, the Martial Instructory on the ground, powerless as a dead dog.


    Themotion caused the previously lively and joyous banquet toe to an abrupt halt; all the guests stood up and turned their gazes toward this side.


    However, no one dared to intervene, and even fewer dared to say anything, for the matter involved not just the Murong Family but also the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan.


    Secretly, people couldn''t help but think to themselves, "Who exactly is that young man in the wheelchair? How can he be so arrogant as to disregard Young Master Murong and even dare to strike a Martial Instructor of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan? Isn''t he tantly stirring up trouble against powerful figures?"


    Hong Wei quietly tugged at Hong Yuting''s sleeve and whispered, "Sister, this is going to cause big trouble now. Ye Feng has actually hit a Martial Instructor of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan. This is serious; it might even implicate our Hong Family!"


    Hong Yuting rolled her eyes and said, "What''s there to be afraid of? This guy dares toy hands on a Martial Instructor of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, he''s just courting death on his own, what does that have to do with us? Besides, now that I''m getting along with Young Master Murong, he certainly won''t let this implicate our Hong Family."


    After finishing her words, Hong Yuting fiercely red at Ye Feng, gritting her teeth word by word, "This guy was arrogant enough in Jiangdu, now he dares such wanton actions even in Southern River Region Jiangnan Province. I told you before, I wanted toe to Southern River Region Jiangnan to personally see how he dies!"


    Continue reading on empire


    Murong Qinglong stood frozen in ce for quite some time before he finally snapped out of it. Though his entire body trembled with rage, he was not foolish and knew that the one who had just made a move was a master, so he dared not act recklessly.


    "Young Master Yin, this man has dared to cause trouble in your Yin Family''s territory and has also injured the Martial Instructor of the Martial Alliance. Could it be that your Yin Family is just going to watch?" Murong Qinglong barked.


    Yin Junde had been waiting for just this moment, and immediately snorted, "Young Master Murong, rest assured, this brat dares to cause trouble during my grandfather''s birthday celebration, showing no regard for my Yin Family. Come, people!"


    As his words fell, three Yin Family experts immediately surrounded them, including two Masters of Inner Force.


    "Ye Feng, I''ve tolerated you for a long time. You dare to present a clock on my grandfather''s seventieth birthday, and now you disregard Young Master Murong, even injuring a Martial Instructor of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan. Today, you will surely die!"


    Murong Qinglong clenched his teeth and growled, "Don''t kill him just yet, first cripple his hands. I want him to crawl like a worm and kneel before me, then torture him bit by bit until he dies!"


    Yin Junde said, "Don''t worry, Young Master Murong. After we cripple his hands, we will hand him over to you for disposal!"


    Upon hearing this, Ye Feng shook his head silently and sighed, "I really thought the third generation of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan might amount to something, but it seems they''re just a bunch of uneducated and useless rich kids!"


    "The timing on that side should be about right now. Seventeen, can you handle this?" Ye Feng suddenly called out sternly.


    "Your Highness, rest assured, do you want them all killed?" Seventeen inquired.


    The people around who heard these words all trembled inwardly, especially upon seeing Seventeen''s cold eyes, no one doubted that he meant what he said.


    Ye Feng said, "You decide!"


    With that said, Ye Feng instructed Hong Qingyan to push his wheelchair, slowly heading toward the back of the hall.


    In the backyard, the several big families and those two so-called masters from the Western Region should being to an understanding by now.


    "Ye Feng, you think you can just walk away? It won''t be that easy!" Yin Junde bellowed.


    However, as soon as he spoke out, Seventeen pounced and sent him flying with a punch.


    Ye Feng didn''t look back, for there was no need to; sounds of fierce fighting and cries of pain immediately followed behind him.


    Just as he stepped out of the main hall, the fighting already ceased, with Seventeen returning to stand behind Ye Feng.


    Ye Feng did not ask; there was no need, for a group of uneducated spoiled brats did not warrant his concern.

 Chapter 87 I Come Only for One Thing, to Kill You

    Ye Feng quickly made his way to the back courtyard, walking along the corridor from the main hall. Discover hidden stories at empire


    Yet before he even entered the conference hall, he could already hear Cui Hao''s roaring voice from inside.


    "Yin Songping, your Yin Family is truly harboring malicious intentions, daring to scheme swallowing up the assets of our major families. I must say, the appetite of your Yin Family is also outrageouslyrge, isn''t it?"


    "The Yin Family is colluding with outsiders to strike against our families. Yin Songping, by doing this, are you not afraid of being annihted by the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan?"


    At that moment, Yin Songping''s cold, mockingughter could be heard: "Afraid of being annihted by the Martial Alliance? Why should I be afraid? It''s not like I''m forcing you. It''s you who are willingly giving up your family assets to save your respective family heads!"


    "Wishful thinking!"


    Cui Hao angrily retorted with a cold voice, "Do you really think we are fools? You want to threaten us with this? Even if we don''t rescue the Family Heads, don''t even dream of us handing over our family assets!"


    Yin Songping sneered, "If it were only the heads of your families, of course you wouldn''tply so easily."


    Cui Hao and the others demanded, "What do you mean by that?"


    It was then that the two so-called masters from the Western Region spoke up: "If those poisoned by Gu include you, and your lives are already in our hands, tell me, will you yield or not?"


    "You...what did you say, we''ve also been poisoned with Gu?" Cui Hao and the others were shocked once again.


    It was only at this moment that they fully came to their senses, gritting their teeth and saying with indignation, "I understand now. These two people, they are not any masters from the Western Region at all; they are from the Gu&Poison Sect. Your Yin Family, you''ve been in cahoots with the Gu&Poison Sect all along, haven''t you?"


    Yin Songping sighed with a smile, "Representatives of the families, now that you understand, isn''t it toote? I can tell you that it''s not just you few; all the direct lineage of your major families have been infected with Gu and Poison."


    "Just a word from the masters can take your little lives in an instant. So think carefully about whether you want your money or your lives!"


    Cui Hao and the others turned deathly pale. If what the other party said was true, then the situation was indeed grave.


    "Yin Songping, you old thing, you''re truly sinister and vicious!" Cui Hao appeared to grit his teeth in rage.


    Yin Songping burst into heartyughter, "As the saying goes, a man without poison is not a true man. me yourselves for being too stupid, too naive. Of course, I''m not one to push too far.


    As long as you agree to transfer the family assets willingly, I promise you your lives will be safe, and I will also provide each family with a Settlement Fee sufficient for you to live out the rest of your lives."


    "Impossible, even if we die, we will never let you profit from this, you dog!" a representative of a second-rate family cursed angrily.


    "That''s right, Mr. Ye, Ye Feng, he can remove Gu and Poison. We can find him. Didn''t he say he wanted half of our assets? As long as he can save our families, I am willing to give up half of the family assets!"


    "Exactly, there''s no time to dy. We must hurry out and notify Mr. Ye immediately. He has a high-level expert with him. Also, inform the Leader of the Martial Alliance right away and have him step in to eradicate the Yin Family together!"


    Finallying to their senses, Cui Hao and the others rushed to the door, but before they could even open it, they felt dizzy and weak, unable to exert any force.


    "Haha¡­ I said you were naive, and indeed you are foolish enough. Since I''ve already revealed all my cards, why would I let you leave?"


    Yin Songpingughed loudly, now finally able to wield his butcher''s knife over thesembs.


    "Yin Songping, you loser, you won''t die a good death!" a representative howled.


    "I hate this¡ªfor not pleasing Mr. Ye from the very beginning. If I had humbled myself to earnestly seek his help, he would have acted to heal us. How could we have ended up in such a plight now!"


    "It''s toote now, damn it! Why am I so powerless right now that I can''t even summon my Inner Strength!"


    A master from the Gu&Poison Sectughed in a strange voice, "Of course you can''t muster the strength, because you''ve been poisoned with the Gu&Poison Sect''s Soft Muscle Powder. Within twenty-four hours, not to mention employing your Inner Strength, you''ll be even worse off than an ordinary person."


    Yin Songping suddenly spoke in a deep voice, "What I can tell you is, all the direct lineage of your few major families have been poisoned with Soft Muscle Powder. If you do not agree to transfer the properties within twenty-four hours, that will be the time of your demise!"


    With a cold snort, he sat down directly in the master''s Taishi Chair with a Golden de posture, exuding an aura of chilling authority, as if everything was under his control.


    A master from the Gu&Poison Sect suddenly sneered, "Actually, there''s no need to kill them. Within twenty-four hours, our senior brother should have arrived."


    Yin Songping quickly asked, "The senior brother of you two masters, is it the one previously mentioned who is adept at the Hypnosis Technique?"


    "Exactly!" The two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect revealed a look of arrogant pride and continued, "Our senior brother''s hypnotism is the best in the world. Once these people''s will has been sufficiently worn down and hypnotism is applied, whatever we ask of them, they will do, even more obedient than one''s own child!"


    Cui Hao''s face turned ashen. He couldn''t have imagined that the Yin Family had already secretly colluded with an existence like the Gu&Poison Sect.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Deputy Head of the Cui Family, what do we do, what should we do now?" The representative of the Yan Family was nearly in tears, his whole body limp on the ground, unable to even stand.


    Cui Hao gritted his teeth and said, "Things havee to this, what can I do? Let''s leave it to fate then. If the heavens want to destroy us, then we must resign ourselves to our fate."


    The Yan Family representative said, "If we had known this would happen, why did we do it in the first ce? If we hadn''t been so full of ourselves at the beginning, looking down on Mr. Ye and even offending him, how could we have brewed such a bitter oue today!"


    Ye Feng, upon hearing this, knew the time was nearly right, and turned his head slightly to give a subtle signal to Seventeen behind him.


    Without saying a word, Seventeen immediately pounced forward and kicked the room door to smithereens with one foot.


    "Who? Who dares to barge into my Yin Family''s stronghold? Have you no desire to live?" the eldest son of the Yin Family, Yin Angli, suddenly eximed, even grasping a knife in his hand.


    The rest were also startled and hastily turned their heads to look outside, only to see a wheelchair slowly being pushed in, and upon it sat a young man with a stern face and a full beard.


    There was no expression on the man''s face, but his eyes were as cold and sharp as steel knives.


    "It''s Mr. Ye, thank goodness, he''s here, he finally came!"


    "Thank heavens, Mr. Ye, you''ve finally arrived, we are saved now."


    "Mr. Ye, we were wrong, we''ve realized our mistake, please save us. If you can save us, we are willing to hand over half of our family''s property!"


    Ye Feng did not look at them but instead stared intently at the two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect seated in the main seats.


    The two of them were sitting there in a Golden de posture, wearing wide ck robes with their faces covered by a ck veil, obscuring their features, but their eyes were as fierce as eagles''.


    Yin Songping was startled at first, but quickly regained hisposure and with a cold snort said, "Ye Feng, you are the son-inw of the Hong Family, and have nothing to do with these major families. Are you really intending to stick your nose in this business?"


    The two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect sneered, "A mere cripple at that, even if he wants to intervene, does he have the ability?"


    Ye Feng suddenly lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled, "Patriarch Yin, you are mistaken. I didn''te here to meddle in other''s affairs, nor am I here to save these major families."


    "Then what is your reason for barging in?" Yin Songping demanded.


    "I''vee for one thing only, to kill you, and those two as well!"

 Chapter 88: Bragging in the Face of Death

    The two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect burst intoughter, "Kill the two of us, just with you, a cripple?"


    Yin Songping also sneered, "Has this boy¡¯s head been kicked by a donkey? Does he really think that having a Master of Inner Force by his side means he can do whatever he wants!"


    "Come, someone take this boy down!" Yin Songping ordered.


    However, the outside remained dead silent, and no one rushed in. Yin Songping waited for a moment, his face slightly changing, but he was not panicked.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Today, with two masters in ce, there was nothing to worry about.


    At that moment, suddenly, the steward hurried over, eximing, "Something terrible has happened, master! The young master has been crippled, and the family¡¯s three Masters of Inner Force have all had their legs and feet broken, right in the outside banquet hall."


    Yin Angli asked sternly, "Who did this?"


    "It was that Mr. Ye, the one who came to deliver the clock..."


    As the steward spoke, he suddenly caught sight of Ye Feng sitting to the side, and he couldn¡¯t help eximing in shock, "It¡¯s him, it¡¯s this guy in the wheelchair!"


    The two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect finally stood up slowly, they weren¡¯t fools; anyone capable of taking down three Masters of Inner Force was certainly no ordinary person.


    Yin Songping, grinding his teeth in fury, said, "Mr. Ye, you good-for-nothing, crippling three of my Yin Family¡¯s grandmasters, but the foundation of my Yin Family will make sure you have no ce for your corpse to rest today!"


    "Both masters, please take him down!" Suddenly, Yin Songping turned and bowed his hands in request.


    The two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect paid him no mind and slowly stepped forward, moving step by step toward Ye Feng, their eagle eyes fixed tightly on him. Your journey continues on empire


    "Given that you were able to take down three Masters of Inner Force, you seem to be a martial arts practitioner as well, it seems we have underestimated you," the two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect said with a smile.


    Ye Feng sat still in his wheelchair, his expression unchanged. There was even a faint hint of mockery as he spoke, "So the two of you can really endure, not willing to make a move even now?"


    The two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect said, "No rush, you speak with a certain air of distinction, and you¡¯re likely no ordinary individual. May we know your background, or are you perhaps the young master of one of the capital¡¯s Aristocratic n Gates?"


    Ye Fengughed and shook his head, "You two deliberately beat around the bush, unwilling to make a move. Is it because you are unsure of victory, or are you taking the opportunity to secretly poison me?"


    The faces of the two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect changed slightly, but luckily their faces were veiled and outsiders couldn¡¯t tell.


    "What are you talking about? We don¡¯t understand, why not tell us your background? We know quite a few Aristocratic ns in the capital, it¡¯s possible we might recognize your family elders."


    Ye Fengughed and said, "You two im to be from the Great Hanging Cave of the Western Region. What a coincidence, I am the third-generation Cave Master of the Great Hanging Cave of the Western Region, your great-granduncle in other words. Mischievous children, kneel down and pay your respects to your great-granduncle!"


    "You insolent fool, you¡¯re seeking death!" The two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect exploded in rage, clenching their fists tightly, yet they still did not make a move.


    "So, still not willing to make a move?"


    Ye Feng¡¯s lips curved into a slight smirk as he taunted, "Are you perhaps waiting, waiting for me to be affected by your so-called Soft Muscle Powder before you prepare to strike?"


    The expressions of the two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect finally shifted as they eximed in shock, "You brat, you actually know about the Soft Muscle Powder weid down in secret. How did you figure it out? That¡¯s impossible; the Soft Muscle Powder is colorless and odorless, you couldn¡¯t possibly have detected it!"


    "Even if you did detect it, the Soft Muscle Powder has already permeated the air of the hall, it¡¯s impossible for you to resist it!"


    Ye Feng sneered, "Not to hide it from you, the form for the Soft Muscle Powder was actually developed by me. To use it in front of me is simply a joke!"


    The two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect finally panicked. ording to reason, the hall should have already been filled with Soft Muscle Powder; anyone who breathed it in would be unable to resist.


    Once affected by the Soft Muscle Powder, they would quickly be weak, with the weaker individuals possibly even fainting on the spot.


    But the man before them didn¡¯t react, which could only mean one thing: he had an antidote!


    "Just who are you?" The two masters from the Gu&Poison Sect demanded once again.


    "As I just said, I¡¯m here to take your life!"


    ```


    "You¡¯re courting death, kill!" Two Gu&Poison Sect disciples had already approached Tang Feng while they were talking.


    They suddenly attacked from midair with incredible speed. Even Seventeen, who was behind them, definitely wouldn¡¯t have time to help. This was something they had calcted in advance.


    However, they never anticipated that the real expert wasn¡¯t Seventeen, but Ye Feng!


    Ye Feng was still sitting in his wheelchair without moving, nor did he raise his hand to block or even deign to give the two men a direct look.


    Just as their eagle-w-like Great Hands were about to grab him, Hong Qingyan, standing to the side, was so frightened that she paled and screamed.


    At that moment, Ye Feng moved, or to be precise, his mouth did.


    He opened his mouth and forcefully exhaled twice, turning his breath into arrows that shot through the air.


    Ah...


    The palms of the two Gu&Poison Sect masters were pierced through, and with a wail, they toppled backwards.


    "Not good, he¡¯s a Huajin Grandmaster, at the very least a Grandmaster at Peak, we must escape quickly!"


    The two Gu&Poison Sect experts, who were only Masters of Inner Force, knew they were no match and immediately turned to flee through the window.


    But at this moment, Ye Feng waved his Great Hand, and two invisible Qi Forces shot out. With two thumps, the men cried out in pain and fell to the ground.


    As theyy there, vomiting blood from their mouths, their bodies were like dead dogs on the ground, unable to struggle to their feet.


    The patriarch of the Yin Family turned deathly pale and his legs shook uncontrobly; he knew it was over, the Yin Family was finished.


    With a thud...


    Yin Songping knelt before Ye Feng, begging, "I was wrong, I know my mistake. Please, Mr. Ye, show mercy and spare my Yin Family. I¡¯m willing to provide the antidote to save Cui Yan and the heads of the other noble families, and I¡¯ll give you an additional one billion. Please spare my Yin Family!"


    The representatives of Cui Yan and the other noble families couldn¡¯t help but feel the joy of a narrow escape, though they knew Mr. Ye hadn¡¯t intended to save them. Nheless, it seemed their lives were saved.


    "The old Yin fellow thinks he can bribe Mr. Ye with a billion? He really thinks Mr. Ye has never seen money before?"


    Cui Hao sighed inwardly. Only now did he fully understand that it wasn¡¯t that the other party was arrogant or disdainful of money, but rather they simply weren¡¯t interested.


    Ye Feng did not look at Yin Songping, who was kneeling and begging on the ground. He pushed his wheelchair towards the two Gu&Poison Sect masters and then looked down at them from his elevated position.


    "Do you know why I didn¡¯t pierce your hearts directly, allowing you to remain alive?" Ye Feng said coldly.


    The two Gu&Poison Sect masters had several broken ribs, and they dared not imagine that a mere wave of the hand from their opponent could shatter so many of their bones. His power was truly terrifying.


    "Mr. Ye, we know you¡¯re no ordinary person, but do you know who we are? I must tell you, if you kill us, you will definitely get into big trouble, and you will surely die as well!" the two Gu&Poison Sect masters gritted their teeth and said.


    "Your origins?"


    Ye Fengughed, shaking his head and sighing, "If I came specifically for you two, how could I not know about your origins? Are you not masters from the Gu&Poison Sect of the Southern Border, or am I mistaken?"


    The faces of the two disciples from the Gu&Poison Sect went deathly gray. Gritting their teeth and forcing themselves to maintainposure, they said, "Since you know we are from the Gu&Poison Sect of the Southern Border, then you should also know how terrifying the Gu&Poison Sect is. If you kill us, the Gu&Poison Sect will not let it go."


    "If you let us go now, the Gu&Poison Sect might still forgive you for disrupting their grand ns!"


    "You¡¯re on the brink of death and still have the nerve to talk big!"


    Ye Feng shook his head helplessly and then said sternly, "I¡¯m sparing you not because I fear killing you, but because I¡¯m using you to wait for someone."


    "Using us to wait for someone?"


    The two from the Gu&Poison Sect paused, then suddenly realized: "You¡¯re waiting for our eldest senior brother?"


    ```

 Chapter 89: I’ll Wait for You on Yellow Springs Road

    Ye Feng no longer spoke; he never liked to waste words.


    The two disciples from the Gu&Poison Sect also shut their mouths, clearly worried that saying too much might anger this fellow and cost them their lives.


    Besides, everything could wait until the arrival of the eldest senior brother.


    The eldest senior brother was a Huajin Master, and most crucially, he was also proficient in the Bewitching Technique. Once he arrived, it would surely be the end for this youngster.


    The entire inner hall suddenly fell silent. Naturally, the Yin Family was also waiting; if the eldest senior brother of the Gu&Poison Sect could turn the tide and kill this man surnamed Ye, then without a doubt, the Yin Family would be fortunate to survive a great disaster.


    Cui Hao and the others, however, became anxious. The effects of the Soft Muscle Powder hadn¡¯t worn off yet, leaving their bodies still limp and unable to move.


    "Mr. Ye, are we really going to wait like this?" Cui Hao thought for a moment before speaking up.


    Ye Feng sat in his wheelchair as if deaf, totally uninterested in responding.


    Cui Hao then forced a bitter smile and said, "Of course, Mr. Ye, I don¡¯t doubt your strength, but the origins of the opponents are unclear, and it is said that they are skilled in that strange Bewitching Technique, so idents could easily happen."


    Hong Qingyan couldn¡¯t help but say, "If you¡¯re so worried, you are free to leave now!"


    Cui Hao, with a drooping face, wailed, "We¡¯d like to leave, but we can¡¯t even move; Mr. Ye, why don¡¯t we leave now? We can take these two disciples of the Gu&Poison Sect and the dog of the Patriarch of the Yin Family to the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan. As long as we get to the Martial Alliance, we¡¯ll bepletely safe."


    "Shut your mouth!" Ye Feng suddenly spoke.


    Cui Hao dared not speak any further, onlymenting inwardly, wondering why they had to risk so much.


    Yin Songping, witnessing this scene, sneered in his heart, "Just wait, when our eldest senior brother arrives, that will be the end for all of you, and the Yin Family will rise again, even more determined to make you pay!"


    Time ticked by. No one spoke. Everyone waited with their own schemes or inner turmoil.


    However, the wait was not long; suddenly, a whizzing sound of someone cutting through the air came from outside the courtyard.


    Suddenly, with a "whoosh" sound, someone leaped over the courtyard wall,nding firmly on the ground like a nail.


    Even ordinary people could tell that this neer was not weak; his Qinggong was evidently very impressive.


    Cui Hao and the others inwardly cursed their luck, thinking that the Grandmaster brother had indeed arrived.


    The person outside shouted, "Junior brothers, have youpleted the task assigned by our sect?"


    Ye Feng remained silent, merely staring coldly at the two Gu&Poison Sect disciples.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The disciples from the Gu&Poison Sect knew that if they said even half a wrong word, they would likely be killed on the spot. More importantly, they understood that now was not the time to make any mistakes; if they raised any suspicion in their eldest senior brother causing him to leave, they would be doomed for sure.


    "Eldest senior brother, you have arrived! Please,e inside quickly; the task has been aplished, and we¡¯re just waiting for you toe and take over!" The two disciples from the Gu&Poison Sect mustered their energy, trying to sound joyfully loud as they called out.


    The eldest senior brother, unsuspecting of any deception, stepped forward, but the moment he walked in, he froze,pletely dumbfounded.


    "What is..." The Grandmaster took only a nce before his gaze locked onto Ye Feng.


    Even though this man was sitting in a wheelchair, his intuition told him that this person was out of the ordinary, especially that gaze and the aura emanating from him, nothing ordinary or mundane.


    Ye Feng watched him with a smile. From the moment the Grandmaster stepped across the threshold, his fate was sealed; he could no longer escape from Ye Feng¡¯s grasp.


    This Grandmaster¡¯s figure was not burly; on the contrary, he was rather thin and frail-looking. His darkplexion made him resemble a monkey from the mountains, but his deep blue eyes gave off an eerie feeling.


    Ye Feng said calmly with a smile, "You¡¯ve finally arrived; I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time."


    The Gu&Poison Sect Grandmaster didn¡¯t take another step forward, appearing extremely wary and cautious, and he coldly huffed, "You were waiting for me? And who exactly are you? Also, why are my junior brothers lying on the ground?"


    Ye Feng did not answer. He never replied to anything he deemed meaningless. He only asked, "I hear you are skilled in Bewitching Exotic Techniques?"


    Your next chapter awaits on empire


    The Gu&Poison Sect Grandmaster¡¯s pupils constricted sharply as he demanded, "It seems my two junior brothers are severely injured on the ground, surely it must be your doing?"


    Ye Feng still didn¡¯t answer; instead, he said, "I¡¯ll give you one chance, one chance to use your Bewitching Exotic Technique. Remember, only one!"


    The master of the Gu&Poison Sect stopped asking. Clearly, he knew there was no point in asking any more questions at this time.


    "You must know of our origins, yet you still dared to seriously injure my two junior brothers. It seems you are no ordinary person," the master of the Gu&Poison Sect said gravely.


    Ye Feng still didn¡¯t respond, only saying, "You have ten seconds left!"


    The Gu&Poison Sect elder¡¯s expression suddenly sank, his gaze fixed tightly on Ye Feng as he enunciated word by word, "It seems you truly intend to create a situation where neither of us will stop until death ensues, am I right?"


    No sooner had these words fallen than, taking advantage of Ye Feng looking his way, he suddenly shouted, "Look into my eyes!"


    His voice exploded like thunder out of the blue, causing everyone¡¯s eardrums around him to tremble and their heads to buzz, even making their consciousness blur.


    Of course, this was only for ordinary people like Cui Hao. Sitting in his wheelchair, Ye Feng had such a robust Qi Force within him that naturally, he couldn¡¯t be frightened.


    Almost in an instant, the elder Gu&Poison Sect master¡¯s deep blue eyes seemed to spin, emitting a strange fluctuation.


    Ye Feng suddenly felt as if his eyes were pricked by a mosquito, a slight pain, and then all the difort disappeared.


    On the other side, the Gu&Poison Sect elder, with his nerves tightly wound and teeth clenched, seemed still to be using Qi Cirction to apply his Bewitching Technique,pletely unaware that his so-called Bewitching Technique had no effect on the person it was cast upon.


    Ye Feng shook his head with a slight sigh, thinking the opponent¡¯s so-called Bewitching Technique would be somewhat special, yet now it seemed it was nothing much after all.


    "So you¡¯re nothing but a jumping clown¡­"


    "Suppress!"


    Ye Feng suddenly let out a voice that wasn¡¯t particrly loud, but a fierce Qi Force burst forth from it like a rampaging dragon, heading straight towards the other party.


    Sputter...


    The Gu&Poison Sect elder spat out blood on the spot and slowly copsed into his own pool of blood, his hands covering his chest.


    "You... you are actually... a king..." Before he could finish his words, he was already out of breath and voiceless.


    Ye Feng didn¡¯t make a move. Of course, the opponent wasn¡¯t worthy of his attention.


    Merely the word "suppress" was enough to shake the life out of his foe!


    When Cui Hao and the others saw this, they were all shocked silly; this kind of method was almost beyond their imagination.


    Meanwhile, Patriarch Yin Family, who thought he would be lucky to survive a great disaster, slumped soft to the ground; his family was truly finished this time!


    Ye Feng turned his head to look at the two remaining Gu&Poison Sect disciples, "Reveal the location of your sect¡¯s gate, and I shall grant you a quick death."


    "You think we would tell you where our gate is? Dream on!"


    The two Gu&Poison Sect disciples roared furiously, "Ye, you dare to oppose our Gu&Poison Sect from the Southern Border, let us tell you, though we may not live, you won¡¯t live long either. The Gu&Poison Sect will surelye to settle the score with you!"


    "We will be waiting for you on the Yellow Springs Road!" After howling these words, the two Gu&Poison Sect disciples took poison andmitted suicide, apparently they had long been keeping poison in their mouths.


    Ye Feng¡¯s face showed no expression as he turned his head and coldly said to Yin Songping, "Now you should understand why I gave you a whole hour on your seventieth birthday, right?"


    Yin Songping felt a bitter taste in his throat, hardly able to speak. After a long time, he managed, "No... you can¡¯t kill me. If you do, the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan wille after you. If you let me go, I can promise you money, as much as you want!"


    "Your twoplicit friends are waiting for you on the Yellow Springs Road; don¡¯t keep them waiting too long!"


    Having said that, Ye Feng pushed his wheelchair and slowly started moving towards the outside.


    Yin Songping kept howling, "No... I don¡¯t want to die. I am the Patriarch of the Yin Family, I have immense wealth, I haven¡¯t enjoyed my life yet, I have so many young and beautiful women, I can¡¯t die, I don¡¯t want to die!"


    Without turning his head back, Ye Feng simply waved his hand, "Seventeen, see him off."

 Chapter 90 The Untrustworthy Scoundrel

    Ye Feng left the Yin Family soon after. As for the so-called properties, he didn¡¯t care about them at all.


    Of course, he knew that it was unlikely to trace the whereabouts of the Southern Border Gu & Poison Sect with this lead.


    The Southern Border Gu & Poison Sect had many branches, and this one they had encountered might just be a splinter, not the elite of the actual Gu & Poison Sect.


    Cui Hao and the others didn¡¯t dare to linger long and, with the help of the servants, also left the Yin Family.


    The originally lively and festive Yin Family quickly went from celebrating a wedding to mourning a death.


    The Yin Family did not say much to the outside world. Despite the servants¡¯ confusion, they didn¡¯t understand why in a sudden turn of events, the old head of the Yin Family had died, the eldest son, Yin Angli, had been disabled, and even the eldest grandson, Yin Junde, had be an idiot.


    Leaving before Ye Feng, however, was Gusu Murong Young Master, Murong Qinglong.


    "Ye Feng... this damned bastard, actually severed my right arm. This score... it absolutely cannot end like this!"


    Sitting in the carriage, Murong Qinglong kept roaring in anger. Although his severed right arm had been set in a cast, even if it would recover, he would never be able to practice martial arts again. For him, from a martial arts family, it was like a tiger losing its teeth.


    As for the martial instructor who had apanied him, he fared even worse. With both legs disabled and carried out of the Yin Family¡¯s home, he was still unconscious.


    Sitting in the back seat, Hong Yuting kept fanning the mes, snorting, "This Ye fellow, although he is our Hong Family¡¯s son-inw, was utterlywless. We couldn¡¯t even lift our heads under his oppression when he was at the Hong Family!"


    "Brother Murong, you might not be aware, but when he was in Jiangdu, he already wiped out several great families. This man hasmitted monstrous crimes!"


    Murong Qinglong¡¯s eyes revealed a deep resentment, "If this man doesn¡¯t die, my heart¡¯s hatred cannot be extinguished. Call my grandfather immediately!"


    The bodyguard in the passenger seat, who was also a member of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, said, "Young Master Murong, the Alliance Hierarch is currently in a meeting at the Martial Alliance, calling him now..."


    "Don¡¯t give me that nonsense, just call him immediately, right now!"


    Murong Qinglong was livid as he asserted, "His most precious grandson has been crippled along with the martial instructor, one of the four great instructors of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, being carried out like that. If we don¡¯t retaliate, how can I ever assuage my resentment if that Ye fellow doesn¡¯t die?"


    "Yes!" The Martial Alliance bodyguard dared not say any more and immediately made the call.


    Hong Yuting¡¯s eyes swiveled before she spoke to Brother Murong, "Although your grandfather is the Leader of the Martial Alliance of the Southern River Region Jiangnan, that Ye fellow is said to possibly be from some aristocratic n, a great young master from the capital. Your grandfather, he¡­"


    "No matter what his background is, he¡¯s just a cripple now. Even if he truly is a young master from some capital¡¯s aristocratic n, he¡¯s surely been abandoned by his family. Such a person is not to be feared!"


    Murong Qinglong bit his teeth in anger, "In any case, we must kill him no matter what!"


    Hong Yuting didn¡¯t say anything more, but the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, revealing a smug smile.


    Her visit to the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province was purely to witness how these wealthy and noble families would kill Ye Feng.


    "I was still thinking about how to set up a situation that would cause you to conflict with the Four Great Families of the Southern River Region Jiangnan. But who would have thought, Ye Feng, that you would court death and run into the muzzle of a gun yourself. Now let¡¯s see how you die!"


    Hong Yuting thought privately, not doubting Murong Qinglong¡¯s words in the least, as he was not only from the Four Great Families but his grandfather, the Old Head of the Murong Family, was also the Leader of the Martial Alliance.


    That was the Martial Alliance of the Provincial City in the Southern River Region Jiangnan, not to bepared to the city of Jiangdu. And it was said that the old head of the Murong Family was a true Great Grandmaster!


    Continue your adventure with empire


    Meanwhile, Ye Feng was already in his car. Initially, he wanted to go directly to the Martial Alliance of the Southern River Region Jiangnan to use their power to carefully look into the recent activities of the two Gu & Poison Sect Disciples, to see if they had any contact with other people and thus uncover clues.


    But Hong Qingyan was tired; this girl was inherently weak, so Ye Feng thought it over and decided to return to the vi first. As for Cui Yan and other family representatives, he couldn¡¯t be bothered with them.


    Cui Hao and the others were helped out of the Yin Family and only after settling in their vehicle did they breathe a sigh of relief, a sense of having survived a great cmity.


    "Deputy Head Cui, now that we¡¯ve obtained the antidote for the gu poison from the Yin Family, the heads of our families shouldn¡¯t have to worry about the poison anymore."


    The representative from the Yan Family paused there, falling into a thoughtful silence, as if he had more to say but hesitated.


    Cui Hao frowned and said, "What are you trying to say? Out with it; there are no outsiders here!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The vehicle was a nanny van, seating only five individuals¡ªall representatives of the major families. By this time, the effects of the Soft Muscle Powder were gradually diminishing. They were all trained in martial arts and were slowly regaining some strength.


    As a result, the ice-thin anxiety they had felt was starting to rx, and their minds naturally were bing sharper.


    After some thought, the representative from the Yan Family said, "Although we managed to escape death this time entirely thanks to that Ye Feng, from the situation at the time, he didn¡¯te specifically to save us. In other words, he just happened to do so."


    "Moreover, now that we already have the antidotes, and the lives of our family heads are no longer in jeopardy, surely we¡¯re not expected to obediently y the role ofmbs to the ughter?"


    "You mean..." Cui Hao also fell into a contemtive silence.


    "Brother Yan is correct. Although we owe our escape this time to Mr. Ye, and we should be grateful, to hand over half of each of our families¡¯ assets to him, isn¡¯t that a bit too much?" A representative of a second-tier family spoke up.


    "But, didn¡¯t we already agree to it when we were with the Yin Family? If we go back on our word now, wouldn¡¯t that be dishonorable?" another representative said.


    The representative from the Yan Family turned to Cui Hao and asked, "Deputy Head Cui, what do you think?"


    Cui Hao was still mulling it over and after a long while said, "Indeed, the man did save us, and we should be grateful. However, to directly give away half of our family¡¯s holdings to this person, that¡¯s surely going a bit too far, isn¡¯t it?"


    "Who would disagree? After all, hasn¡¯t each one of our families painstakingly built up their assets over the decades? To now simply hand over the majority of them to someone else, how could we bear that?"


    "But... we already promised this before. Furthermore, that Ye Feng, he¡¯s very formidable. If we anger him..."


    "Ye Feng is formidable, but now that our family heads have been rescued and the threat is gone, surely ourbined families are not afraid of him, are we?"


    "Enough!"


    Cui Hao abruptly gestured with his hand and continued, "Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do: Ye Feng is too powerful; it¡¯s not wise to confront him for now. Of course, we can¡¯t just outright refuse him either. Before we proceed with transferring our assets, we must first meet someone."


    "Meet someone? Who?" everyone immediately asked.


    "Of course, Murong Zhantian, the Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan!" Cui Hao replied with a coldugh.


    "Meet Murong Zhantian? Do you think that old fox will agree to help us broker a deal?" the Yan Family representative asked.


    "Exactly. That old Murong Zhantian would love nothing more than to weaken the power of our Four Great Families, so he can take them down one by one and ultimately dominate the Southern River Region. It¡¯d be strange if he would help us!"


    Cui Hao shook his head and said, "No, he will intervene. And I dare to assert that he must confront that Ye Feng!"


    "You¡¯re so sure?" the Yan Family representative asked.


    "Of course!"


    Cui Hao gave a cold smile and exined, "When we left the Yin Family¡¯s ce, I overheard a servant mentioning that the eldest son of the Murong Family had also attended the birthday celebration, and coincidentally, his arm was broken by Ye Feng, who even crippled one of the martial instructors of the Martial Alliance."


    "Is that really true?" The representatives of the great families¡¯ eyes lit up.


    "Make a phone call right now to confirm whether this is true!"


    With amand from Cui Hao, he suddenly thought and then said, "Let¡¯s not go back just yet. Drive around a bit so we can regain some more strength. As soon as we get confirmation from the Yin Family, we¡¯ll head straight to the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan!"

 Chapter 91 Alliance Hierarch, Your Word, Please!

    Ye Feng returned to the vi and then had dinner with Hong Qingyan.


    However, during dinner, Hong Qingyan kept her head down and didn''t speak, appearing to be in a rather poor mood.


    Ye Feng set down his chopsticks and asked, "What''s the matter, Qingyan, you seem to be troubled?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hong Qingyan was startled for a moment, then gave a wry smile and said, "Big Brother Ye, actually, there''s something that has been weighing on my mind for a long time, but I don''t know how to tell you."


    Ye Feng quietly watched her, watched this girl whose heart was as pure as the Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus, pale from illness yet with a pitiable grace that only made her more endearing.


    "What''s our rtionship, you can speak your mind without hesitation," Ye Feng said with a slight smile.


    As the Northern Border King, he rarely smiled, and it was only in front of Hong Qingyan that he would put aside his kingly demeanor.


    Hong Qingyan mustered up her courage and said, "Big Brother Ye, I know you are no ordinary man, especially given the events of this period that have further proven your extraordinary background. And me, not only am I crippled but also frequently ill. Sometimes I feel that following you, I am just a burden."


    To Ye Feng''s surprise, he asked back, "How are you a burden? You take care of me day to day, if not for your care, how would I, a man with a broken leg, manage my life?"


    "But..." Hong Qingyan wanted to say more, yet suddenly didn''t know what to add.


    Ye Feng reached out, touched her head, and said with a chuckle, "Everyone has different abilities. If you feel that taking care of these daily chores is boring and trivial, then from now on, I''ll find something else for you to do, how about that?"


    "No, I don''t find it boring or trivial, it''s just that someone as extraordinary as you might find a cripple like me inadequate. In fact, I know that the Pang Family wanted to send you several young and beautiful female assistants to take better care of you."


    By the end of her sentence, Hong Qingyan''s voice was almost too low to hear.


    Ye Feng couldn''t help butugh, saying irritably, "So it''s about that. The Pang Family may mean well, but I already declined. Besides, all the beauty in the worldbined couldn''tpare to one smile from you."


    Hong Qingyan didn''t respond, just stared nkly at Ye Feng, her eyes filled with emotion and gratitude.


    "Big Brother Ye, you''re really kind. In fact, you''re a good person, not at all like what people say about you," Hong Qingyan said before continuing to eat her meal with her head down.


    Ye Feng shook his head with a smile and then said no more.


    Meanwhile, Cui Hao and the others still wandering on the road finally received a reply from the Yin Family.


    "Sure enough, Young Master Murong Qinglong of the Gusu Murong Family really did get one of his arms broken by that Ye guy, and also one of the martial instructors from the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan was said to have been carried out when he left!"


    After hanging up the phone, Cui Hao''s face showed an undeniable excitement ¨C confirming this news was like a reprieve from death for them.


    The representative from the Yan Family asked, "Was the martial instructor from the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan also crippled by that Ye guy?"


    "Indeed, it seems that this Ye fellow has truly offended the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, and he has also challenged the authority of the Gusu Murong Family. That guy actually dared to speak out at the birthday banquet, saying even if Murong Zhantian, that old thing, showed up, he would still not be worthy to carry his shoes!"


    Unable to conceal augh, Cui Hao shook his head and said, "I must admit, this Ye fellow is somewhat capable and very arrogant, but I never imagined he would be arrogant to such an extent, not even caring for the Gusu Murong Family!"


    The representative from the Yan Family suggested, "Murong Zhantian is extremely protective of his n and also quite narrow-minded. He certainly won''t let this go easily. Deputy Head Cui, what do you think we should do now?"


    "I''ve already had someone ask around. Murong Zhantian is at the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan now. Let''s go to the headquarters to find him. However, there''s something I must make clear to everyone ahead of time, so that no one says the wrong thingter and causes our n to fail," Cui Hao said with a heavy tone.


    The representatives from the second-rate families said, "Deputy Head Cui, please speak your mind."


    After a moment of contemtion, Cui Hao said, "As everyone knows, the Gu&Poison Sect from the Southern Border has always been notorious, and it''s one of the forces that the Martial Alliance aims to eradicate. Now, the Gu&Poison Sect brazenly wants to act against our families through the Yin Family, yet the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan appears to be unaware of this.


    If such news were to reach higher up, I fear..."


    He stopped there, just snorting coldly.


    However, everyone had already understood that the Gu&Poison Sect had beenmitting all manner of evil in Jiangdu, and the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan had not investigated them.


    In the end, it was an outsider who had eradicated them, which, if reported to the Main Martial Alliance of the Imperial Capital, would at least amount to negligence on the part of Jiangnan''s Martial Alliance.


    Cui Hao thought for a while and then said, "Regarding the matter of the Gu&Poison Sect, when we get to the Martial Alliance, no one is to mention it, especially not the matter of that Ye surname boy who eliminated three Gu&Poison Sect disciples. We mustn''t bring it up at all, otherwise, most of the properties of our great families are likely to be lost. Did everyone understand that?"


    "Understood, we naturally understand!"


    "Good, we will head to the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan immediately!" dered Cui Hao with a great wave of his hand, and two carriages immediately roared off at full speed.


    At this time, the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan was located within a garden from thest century in the Southern River Region Jiangnan, at the very deepest part in an antique meeting room where several core members of the Martial Alliance were holding a meeting.


    A servant-like old man knocked on the door and then pushed open the door of the meeting room and walked in.


    The meeting was interrupted, and the distinguished elder sitting at the center with white hair and beard furrowed his eyebrows, revealing a hint of displeasure, but since the steward was his confidant, he did not say much more.


    "Let us pause our discussion for the moment," gestured the elder with his hand.


    He was none other than the old head of the Gusu Murong Family, one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan; they were also the most mysterious and the strongest among the Four Great Families. Of course, he was also the current Alliance Hierarch of the Martial Alliance in the Jiangnan Province.


    He was Murong Zhantian, titled as the greatest expert in the Jiangnan Province, and a Huajin Grandmaster!


    The several core higher-ups of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan naturally did not dare to say much and had to stop.


    The steward went straight to Murong Zhantian and whispered a few words into his ear.


    "What did you say?"


    Murong Zhantian immediately raised his thick grey eyebrows and shouted angrily, "Who has such audacity to break my grandson''s arm, rendering him incapable of practicing martial arts for the rest of his life, and even maimed the martial instructor?"


    The steward replied softly, "It was a young man named Ye Feng."


    "A young man? What is his background, have you found out?" barked Murong Zhantian.


    "We have checked, but can''t determine the specifics just yet. We only roughly know that this person is the son-inw of the Hong Family of Jiangdu. This person sits in a wheelchair, and by all appearances, is a cripple; he is always followed by a Grandmaster. Based on preliminary inferences, he is very likely from one of the Aristocratic n Gates in the Imperial Capital," the steward reported.


    "A young master from an Imperial Capital Aristocratic n Gate, impossible!" Find more to read at empire


    Murong Zhantian suddenly stood up and said through gritted teeth, "Those Aristocratic n Gates in the Imperial Capital, every reputable one, I''m well aware of, and there is no one with a severed leg or a cripple among their direct lineage. What''s more, even if there were, if he came to Jiangnan, we would be informed so as to take good care of him."


    The steward asked, "What does the old master imply?"


    Murong Zhantian slowly narrowed his eyes and said word by word, "I only have this one precious grandson, and someone dared to cripple him, destroying his ability to practice martial arts for life. This is practically the same as cutting off the roots of my Gusu Murong Family. I, as the Alliance Hierarch, must make him pay the price regardless of his background!"


    The steward asked, "Then old master, shall I return to the family and bring some of our top experts to deal with that young man..."


    "No need!"


    Murong Zhantian suddenly interrupted with a gesture, snorting coldly, "Since this youngster also incapacitated the martial instructor, this matter is not only a family affair of the Murong Family, but it also involves the Martial Alliance."


    At this point, a robust middle-aged man sitting on the lower left asked, "May I ask the Alliance Hierarch, who is so blind as to provoke and anger you, sir?"


    Murong Zhantian turned his head to look at him, sighed deeply, and then roughly exined the situation of Murong Qinglong being crippled.


    "This is utterly outrageous; truly, utterly outrageous! That Ye surname boy is far too arrogant; he even dared to harm Young Master Murong. This is utterlywless!"


    The Martial Alliance high-level member who had spoken earlier stood up abruptly, eximing, "Alliance Hierarch, just say the word, and I will take people to bring that boy back!"

 Chapter 92 Subordinate Pays Respect to My King!

    Murong Zhantian showed a pleased expression, but still pondered and said, "That Ye Feng, he was able to easily disable my grandson and even crippled the Martial Instructor, which shows that his strength is not weak, at the very least he is a Grandmaster!"


    The high-ranking official from the Martial Alliance who had just spoken sneered, "Even if he is a Grandmaster, what of it? He''s just a cripple in a wheelchair. How strong can the guards following him be? I will take action myself and guarantee that I''ll capture thed easily and bring him back for the Alliance Hierarch to deal with!"


    The speaker was none other than the Vice Alliance Hierarch of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, named Tan Tiannan, who was also a Grandmaster, and moreover, on the verge of entering the realm of Huajin Grandmaster.


    He was not yet forty years old and even had hopes of advancing to Huajin Grandmaster before his fortieth birthday, which was already considered as promising and having unlimited potential in the national martial arts world.


    Now, as Murong Zhantian was getting on in years, it was likely that he would step back from the limelight in a couple of years; with Tan Tiannan''s youth and strength, along with his high prestige among the younger generation of the Martial Alliance, it was very possible that he would take over the position of the Alliance Hierarch after Murong Zhantian stepped down.


    This was why he was eager to show himself in front of Murong Zhantian; as long as he could gain the recognition of the old Alliance Hierarch at that time, it would be nearly certain that he would take over as the next-generation Alliance Hierarch. Discover hidden content at empire


    Once he became the Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, his family, which was backing him, would very likely leap to the forefront as a first-ss noble house in Jiangnan over the next decade, contending and standing alongside the original Four Great Families!


    Murong Zhantian naturally understood what the other party had in mind, but as things stood, all the second-generation descendants of the Murong Family, like his own son, who was also in his forties, simply fell far short inparison to Tan Tiannan.


    As for the third-generation disciples, like Murong Qinglong, that was even more to say. He had his arm broken by someone and couldn''t practice martial arts for life, even losing the qualification to enter the Martial Alliance ever again, which grieved Murong Zhantian deeply.


    "Deputy Leader Tan, are you really willing to go?" Murong Zhantian asked.


    He had not taken action directly first because he was the Alliance Hierarch, dealing with a cripple in a wheelchair which seemed rather beneath his dignity, and secondly, of course, he also had the idea of testing the waters with Tan Tiannan.


    Tan Tiannan, eager to show his worth, puffed out his chest and said, "Lord Alliance Hierarch, just give the order!"


    Murong Zhantian nodded in satisfaction, about to speak, when a guard suddenly rushed in hurriedly.


    "Reporting to the Alliance Hierarch, Cui Hao and representatives from a few great families, such as Cui Yan, seek an audience outside, asking the Lord Alliance Hierarch to preside over the matter!" the guard said.


    "The Cui Family?"


    Murong Zhantian frowned and then said, "It seems today''s meeting cannot continue. Let them in!"


    Once permitted, Cui Hao and the others strode into the hall, paid their respects and exchanged pleasantries, after which Cui Hao immediately said, "Leader Murong, please make a decision for us!"


    Murong Zhantian, without changing his expression, asked, "The Cui Family, being one of the Four Great Families of Southern River Region Jiangnan, I wonder what trouble you''ve encountered that you can''t resolve and require the intervention of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan?"


    Cui Hao sighed and said, "Shamefully, the opponent we''ve encountered this time is too arrogant and domineering, and also skilled in martial arts. Since even the Cui Family cannot take him down, and moreover, he has publicly dered that he wants half of the properties of our major families, or else he will show no mercy!"


    "How preposterous!"


    Murong Zhantian eximed in a rage, "Under the broad light of day, to dare be so brazen. Does he really think that there is no one in Jiangnan, that the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan is just for show? Tell me, who is this person who speaks so shamelessly!"


    "This person''s name is Ye Feng. He is said to be the son-inw of Jiangdu''s Hong Family. This man is extremely arrogant, known as the Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family in Jiangdu City. ording to investigations, there is no one in Jiangdu City who can match him; he has turned the great families of Jiangdu upside down, and now he hase to our Jiangnan to strut his stuff!"


    Cui Hao finished speaking in one breath, spicing up the story even more.


    "Ye Feng, it''s this Ye Feng again. He really iswless!" Tan Tiannan uttered coldly.


    Hearing this, Cui Hao felt secretly pleased, thinking it seemed they had already received the news, which made things much easier to deal with.


    Testing the waters, Cui Hao said, "Earlier, we were also at the Yin Family to celebrate Elder Patriarch Yin''s birthday. The servants of the Yin Family said that Eldest Young Master Murong Qinglong had been there and seemed to have been beaten up by that Ye Feng. Is that true?"


    Murong Zhantian didn''t answer his question but stared intently at Cui Hao and asked word by word, "Since you were also at the Yin Family at that time, were you present when my grandson was crippled?"


    Cui Hao said with a bitter smile, "We weren''t there at the time, or how could we have stood by and watched Eldest Young Master Qinglong get beaten into disability. To be frank with Leader Murong, we were drinking in the backyard with Elder Patriarch Yin at that time."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Is that so?" Murong Zhantian asked again.


    "Of course it''s true; all the Leader of the Murong Alliance needs to do is send someone to investigate!"


    Cui Hao added with another bitter smile, "It is rather embarrassing to admit, but even though we were present at the time, we were powerless to help, despite our willing hearts. That man surnamed Ye was not only arrogant but he also had a Grandmaster follower by his side; our hands were tied!"


    Murong Zhantian said no more, nced over the Martial Alliance senior members, and then sighed, "Given that, the youngster surnamed Ye must indeed be exceedingly arrogant, causing trouble in Jiangdu Provincial City with no restraint, even daring to encroach upon the properties of the Cui Yan family and several others. It is simplywlessness!"


    "Tan Tiannan, heed mymand!" Murong Zhantian barked coldly.


    "At your service!" Tan Tiannan immediately stood to attention and sped his fists.


    "Take men with you immediately, including two martial instructors, and you must bring back that arrogant youngster named Ye Feng. If the situation proves true, I, as the Alliance Leader, will deem him guilty of death!" Murong Zhantian decreed with a sweep of his arm.


    "Understood!"


    Tan Tiannan sped his fists once more, then turned to Cui Yan and the representatives of the other major families, saying, "Rest assured, representatives of the family leaders, I, as the vice sect leader, will certainly capture that youngster and ensure a satisfactory exnation for you all!"


    Cui Yan and the others repeatedly sped their hands and said, "We are grateful for your efforts, Vice Alliance Hierarch Tan!"


    After saluting the family representatives one by one with sped fists, Tan Tiannan took his leave with the two martial instructors in tow.


    Murong Zhantian quietly watched the scene unfold, the corners of his eyes revealing a trace of coldness. He was of course aware that Tan Tiannan was using the opportunity to curry favor with Cui Yan and the other families.


    Naturally, this was inevitable; Tan Tiannan held a high prestige among the younger generation, and not only was he strong and full of vitality, but his martial arts talent was also formidable. As long as he himself held power, he could suppress him.


    But once he stepped down, the future was uncertain. Once Tan Tiannan secured the support of the other major families and formed his own faction, it would be difficult to control.


    Unfortunately, the lineage of the Gusu Murong had fallen into decline, and among the second and third generations, almost none could rival Tan Tiannan.


    Of course, everyone was well aware of this, but no one would be foolish enough to voice it aloud.


    At this time, on Ye Feng''s side, after having dinner, as twilight descended, Pang Youze and Luo Keque came to report the situation and had already left.


    The setting sun bled red, dying the western sky with shades of crimson, just like the Southern River which appeared as a red ribbon. Ye Feng, sitting in a wheelchair, was pushed by Hong Qingyan; the two were taking a stroll along the riverbank, with Seventeen following at afortable distance behind them.


    As night fell, they were just returning to their vi when Ye Feng immediately saw two people upon entering the courtyard¡ªtwo men standing as straight as javelins.


    Upon seeing the backs of these two men, Ye Feng''s expression turned solemn, and his entire being became somewhat agitated.


    The two standing in the courtyard heard the noise and then swiftly turned around, and after ncing at Ye Feng, they immediately rushed toward him.


    Thump!


    Without a sign, the two men knelt before Ye Feng, lowering their heads in deep respect, "Your subordinate greets my King!"


    Their voices rang out like a long rainbow, echoing in the night sky.


    "You''vee, you''ve actually found your way here, excellent, rise all of you!" Ye Feng nodded vigorously, his face betraying his excitement.


    The two men remained kneeling, insisting, "We, your subordinates, arrivedte to guard our liege, causing Your Highness undue hardship. Please, my King, punish us!"


    Ye Feng''s expression darkened, and he barked angrily, "All of you rise; has mymand be unworthy of heed now that I am not in the Northern Border?"


    Upon hearing this, the two men dared not kneel any longer; they rose immediately, standing ramrod straight, emanating a daunting aura of authority.


    These two were none other than Xiao Chuanqi, the First Legion Commander of the Northern Border, and Sima Zhantian, the Fourth Legion Commander!


    Both of them were Huajin Grandmasters, and both were subordinates to Ye Feng!

 Chapter 93 Who Dares to Trespass the Important Ground!

    Ye Feng with a sweep of his great hand, "Come in and talk!"


    Having said that he himself pushed his wheelchair, taking the lead towards the living room.


    Hong Qingyan, while pushing the wheelchair, looked at these two individuals who exuded an imposing aura from head to toe, her heart trembling, especially with that phrase "greetings, my king" from just now, which deeply shook her.


    "Your Highness?" Hong Qingyan was both shocked and confused because this was far beyond herprehension.


    Seventeen, on the other hand, was silent, also sizing up the two sudden guests just as the two legionmanders were also observing him. To some extent, there was a resemnce in the air about them.


    However, the two legionmanders clearly had a more awe-inspiring presence, and of course, they were much more powerful.


    Seventeen did not speak, nor did he ask any questions; he just did what a follower should do.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The First Legion Commander, Xiao Chuanqi, following behind, asked, "My king, these two..."


    Ye Feng, without turning his head, said, "Everyonee in, they''re not outsiders!"


    The two legionmanders didn''t say anything further; since the prince had said they were not outsiders, they were considered one of their own, or in other words, trustworthy!


    Ye Feng sat in the center of the hall, quietly looking at the two legionmanders who had followed him through life and death for many years. To say they were subordinates was less urate than to say they were brothers in arms.


    It was only then that the twomanders noticed something amiss, and they eximed in shock, "Your Highness, your legs?"


    Ye Feng waved his hand and said with a light smile, "It''s nothing."


    "Damnation!"


    "It''s our ipetence that allowed Your Highness to go to the Imperial City alone, resulting in an ambush and ultimately causing the loss of your legs!"


    The two legionmanders clenched their teeth and their faces were filled with regret and anger.


    Ye Feng calmly looked at the two and asked, "That''s all in the past, there''s no need to dwell on it. Tell me, you two, how did you find this ce?"


    Xiao Chuanqi bowed and said, "Lord Ye Feng, it was Lord Mu Tian who informed us."


    Ye Feng furrowed his brows and asked again, "When did he tell you?"


    "Yesterday, Lord Mu Tian told us yesterday, and even disclosed your exact whereabouts. Originally, Lord Mu Tian also said that Your Highness was still in hiding to recover, and it was not advisable to let too many people know, so he forbade us froming."


    "So you acted on your own initiative and left the Northern Border all the way here?" Ye Feng''s brows raised, his expressionmanding respect without anger.


    "We beg for Your Highness'' forgiveness!"


    The two legionmanders immediately bowed, "We disobeyed Your Highness'' orders and came here to see you on our own. Please punish us, Your Highness. It''s just that we were genuinely worried about Your Highness'' safety and could not rest or sleep withouting here to protect you!"


    "Enough..."


    Ye Feng sighed softly, then said, "Now that you''re here, it''s actually good timing. I could use some help."


    Again, the two legionmanders bowed, "Whatever Your Highness wishes tomand, just give the order."


    Ye Feng couldn''t help butugh with some irritation, "This is not the Northern Border, there''s no need to keep up the formalities from the Northern Border. From now on, you don''t have to call me ''Your Highness.'' We don''t want to cause an unnecessary sensation."


    "But Your Highness..."


    "From now on, address me as Sovereign!"


    "As you wish, Sovereign!" The two legionmanders dared not raise any further objections.


    "By the way, what is the current situation in the Northern Border?" Ye Feng asked in a grave voice.


    Given that he had not returned for so long and the Northern Border was left without a leader, one could imagine the chaos that ensued. Naturally, what concerned Ye Feng the most were still the thousands of soldiers of the Northern Border.


    First Legion Commander Xiao Chuanqi clenched his teeth and said, "The Northern Border is in chaos. After the incident with the Sovereign, themanders of the Third, Sixth, and Eighth Legions went to the Imperial City to show their loyalty. Then, on the third day, experts from the Imperial City were sent with the intent to take over the Northern Border!" Enjoy new tales from empire


    Ye Feng''s expression didn''t change in the slightest as he asked coldly, "Who hase?"


    "It''s an ancient noble n from the capital, the Zhu Family, Zhu Guangbo!" the Fourth Legion Commander, Sima Zhantian, said through gritted teeth.


    "The Zhu Family?"


    Ye Feng raised an eyebrow and then scoffed, "Although the Zhu Family is an old aristocratic n gate in the capital, their main influence lies in the northeast. It''s beyond my expectation that the Zhu Family would extend their reach so far; even daring to probe into the Northern Border."


    "Isn''t that because His Majesty was ambushed and seriously injured, leaving the Northern Border without a leader? It''s only then that these clowns dare to jump onto the stage!" Xiao Chuanqi said angrily.


    "Your Majesty, when will you return to the Northern Border? Right now, Zhu Guangbo might be overseeing it, but with his prestige, he can hardly convince the masses. He''s merely acting as the Northern Border King. Should Your Majesty return, that boy will surely be so frightened that he''ll wet himself!" Sima Zhantian said.


    Ye Feng did not directly answer the question but instead asked, "Where are themanders of the third, sixth, and eighth legions now?"


    "Those three ungrateful dogs, after making a trip to the capital, have transformed and returned to the Northern Border. Currently, they are under Zhu Guangbo''smand. It is with the support of these three that Zhu Guangbo can barely stabilize his position as the Acting Northern Border King!"


    Deep anger surged on the faces of the two legionmanders.


    Ye Feng made noment. He seldom spoke ill of others behind their backs, even if the person truly was a great viin; he rarely gossiped.


    He asked again, "Legion Leader Leng, I heard he was seriously injured; how is he now?"


    The two legionmanders replied, "Your Majesty, Leng Wuming is currently in seclusion in the mountains, focusing on healing and cultivating. His injuries are indeed very severe. He wanted toe, but the two of us persuaded him otherwise.


    However, Legion Leader Leng said that when Your Majesty returns to the Northern Border, he will emerge to support the king and once again follow Your Majesty to cut down the evil-doers and charge into battle across the world!"


    Throughout the period, it was the three of them conversing. Hong Qingyan stood behind Ye Feng, quietly listening. Even though she was still unclear about what a Northern Border King does, just these few words were enough to shock and excite her, even making her blood boil.


    Of course, she was also aware of how incredibly significant Ye Feng''s identity was.


    "The Northern Border King. There are Four Realms in the world, each one guarded to protect thends, and he is actually the Northern Border King, a king of his generation!"


    At that moment, Hong Qingyan''s mind was buzzing. Although she had previously considered that Ye Feng had an extraordinary background, she had never imagined that her fianc¨¦ was the Northern Border King, a reigning monarch!


    Seventeen, on the other hand, waspletely calm, obviously having learned a bit about Ye Feng''s identity from Lord Mu Tian beforeing here.


    "Your Majesty, when will we return to the Northern Border? The countless soldiers of the Northern Border are eagerly waiting, looking forward to Your return to take charge of the overall situation!" the two legionmanders asked earnestly with sped hands.


    "No rush, the time has not yete," Ye Feng waved his hand.


    So the two legionmanders did not ask further. Since His Majesty said the time was not yet right, they would wait.


    Ye Feng looked at the two of them and then suddenly smiled and asked, "Now, my legs are disabled, and I am not the glorious figure I once was. I might even have to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Do you still wish to follow me?"


    Upon hearing this, the two legionmanders did not hesitate to kneel on the ground.


    "No matter what happens to Your Majesty, as long as your original heart doesn''t change, as long as the principles of the Northern Border remain the same, we are willing to follow Your Majesty to the death, to guard the Northern Border!"


    "Good, very good, all rise!" Ye Feng was gratified. These two, along with the First Legion Commander Leng Wuming, had always had close rtions with him.


    In fact, Ye Feng was more than a decade younger than the two of them. However, Ye Feng''s abilities were clear for all to see.


    That child king, when just a teenager, had demonstrated astonishing strength and courage, rapidly rising through the ranks to be a legionmander at the age of eighteen.


    And after the old Northern Border King passed away, this outstanding figure, who was also the youngest legionmander in history, naturally became the new Northern Border King as everyone had hoped. That year, he was only twenty!


    In the following three years, this youngest and most powerful Northern Border King in history led them to guard the Northern Border and to battle across the world. Not to mention anything else, just the battle at the Sunset Mountain Range against the Northern Snow Wolf Country was enough to shake the world.


    The two legionmanders stood up and then respectfully stood in front of Ye Feng, as if waiting for their lord to issuemands at any moment.


    Ye Feng was about to speak when suddenly, there came a rapid knocking from outside the door.


    Just as the knocking stopped, there was suddenly a loud crash; the iron gate of the vi''s courtyard had been kicked down by someone with a single blow.


    "How audacious, who dares to intrude upon this ce recklessly!" the two legionmanders were instantly furious, having never encountered such a thing before.


    "The brat named Ye Feng, I, the Vice Alliance Hierarch, know you''re inside. Hurry up and roll out here to meet your death!"


    Outside the door, in the darkness of the night, came Tan Tiannan''s arrogant and domineering shout.

 Chapter 94 A Minor Errand Runner

    Xiao Chuanqi was furious, his rage boiling over.


    "How preposterous, to dare address His Majesty by name outright; this is courting death!"


    "Who is this person, to have the audacity of a wild dog!" Sima Zhantian was also uncontrobly enraged.


    In the Northern Border, Ye Feng was king, the true ruler of all under heaven, revered by the countless soldiers of the Northern Border, with no one daring to act out of turn before him.


    Not to mention within the Northern Border, even on a national level, no one would dare to disrespect the Northern Border King!


    "Your Majesty, allow me to go and bring this man''s dog head before you!" Sima Zhantian bowed slightly and then strode forward.


    Enjoy more content from empire


    Ye Feng shook his head gently and said, "He is but ackey; there is no need to go to great lengths to kill. For now, simply break his two dog legs!"


    "As Your Majestymands!" Sima Zhantian immediately turned and went out.


    As Tan Tiannan watched someone approaching from outside, he shouted, "Are you thatd Ye Feng? No, that''s wrong, that Ye fellow is a crippled wreck in a wheelchair, you''re not him, call him out quickly to face his death!"


    Sima Zhantian exuded a dignified aura and snorted coldly, "Remember, the one who renders you incapable is called Sima Zhantian!"


    Having said that, he made his move, pouncing like a thunderp, clearly with no intention of wasting words with his opponent.


    Tan Tiannan was caught off guard, instinctively stepping back while saying, "You scoundrel, do you know who I am!"


    "You''re as insignificant as an ant, you''re not worthy of my recognition!" Sima Zhantian dashed over in an instant, his speed inconceivably fast.


    Tan Tiannan''s expression finally changed; as a Master of Inner Force, he naturally realized that his opponent''s strength was not to be underestimated, it was not only formidable but also terrifying.


    What was even more terrifying was that the aura emanating from his opponentpletely suppressed him, leaving Tan Tiannan with no chance to dodge.


    With a bang¡ª


    Sima Zhantian''s fist hammered into his chest, sending him flying instantly.


    "Sir... let''s talk this over!" Tan Tiannan staggered to his feet and yelled urgently; that punch from his opponent had nearly cost him half his life, his breath roiling, nearly unable to suppress a mouthful of old blood from spurting out.


    Sima Zhantian remained silent, fitting for the Fourth Legion Commander of the Northern Border, amanding general with significant authority.


    He charged forward and threw another punch that knocked Tan Tiannan to the ground. Following that, two sessive Cutting Fist strikes cleanly broke both of his legs.


    Ah...


    Tan Tiannan screamed in agony, the Vice Sect Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan Province and a Master of Inner Force,pletely helpless against his opponent, was now disabled.


    The two Martial Alliance members apanying him were terrified, their legs shaking like sieves.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Sima Zhantian gave the two a nce but did not attack, presumably considering these twockeys unworthy of his action.


    Enduring the severe pain, Tan Tiannan clenched his teeth and hissed, "You... you have disabled me; who exactly are you, and... do you realize who I am?"


    Sima Zhantian walked over step by step, looking down at him, "You are not worthy to know who I am. However, one thing I can tell you is that if it were not for His Majesty''s explicit instructions, you would already be a corpse lying on the ground by now!"


    Only then did Ye Feng slowly move his wheelchair out.


    Sima Zhantian did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately walked over, cupping his fists and bowing to Ye Feng, "My lord, I have crippled this man, although it seems he is nothing more than a minor errand boy."


    As Tan Tiannany on the ground and witnessed this scene, a storm of shock surged within him. By now, he had naturally realized that the young man sitting in the wheelchair was indeed the Ye Feng he had been searching for.


    What he never could have imagined was that beside this young man surnamed Ye, there wasn''t just one expert of Inner Strength, but there might be one or even two Huajin Grandmasters.


    At that moment, Tan Tiannan felt a tingling on his scalp. He dared not imagine what kind of background the young man sitting in the wheelchair had, tomand such respect and even awe from two Huajin Grandmasters.


    "You... Who are you exactly?" Tan Tiannan finally asked the question that he most wanted, yet also most feared, to ask.


    Ye Feng gave a faint smile and said, "Who I am, you do not have the privilege to know. If I''m not mistaken, it was Murong Zhantian from the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan who sent you, wasn''t it?"


    Tan Tiannan did not ask further, knowing that if he did, his life might very well end here.


    "Indeed, it was Leader Murong who asked me to capture... oh no, to invite you to make a trip to the Provincial City headquarters of the Martial Alliance!" Tan Tiannan said.


    "The Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan... it turns out to be the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan. They really have quite the nerve. A mere Leader of the Martial Alliance from Southern River Region Jiangnan actually wants our lord to meet him. Isn''t he afraid it will shorten his life?" Xiao Chuanqi suddenly snorted coldly.


    As the First Legion Commander and a confidant at Ye Feng''s side, Xiao Chuanqi naturally knew that the Martial Alliance was founded by Ye Feng. Although he was not the current Alliance Hierarch, his prestige and strength far outmatched the present Leader of the Martial Alliance.


    In other words, even the current Leader of the Martial Alliance was merely Ye Feng''s underling ¨C what could a mere Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan count for?


    "The Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan is even called Murong Zhantian, he also dares to use the name ''Zhantian''¡ªdamn it all!"


    Sima Zhantian was angry again and immediately made a cupped fist salute to Ye Feng, "My lord, please permit me to go directly to the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan and see this Murong Zhantian for myself, to see if he has really eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard to dare call himself ''Zhantian''!"


    Xiao Chuanqi also said, "My lord, now even a lowly Leader of the Provincial City Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan dares to affront you. Let Zhantian take care of it; just have him bring the fellow''s head back, and that will do!"


    Ye Feng waved his hand and couldn''t help but say with augh, "You two guys, remember this is not the Northern Border, and this ce is especially not a battlefield. Don''t use the methods you apply on the battlefield against enemies here."


    "Yes, my lord!" Xiao Chuanqi and Sima Zhantian promptly cupped their fists. They never defied the reprimands of the Northern Border King.


    "However, my lord, a mere Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan dares to be so bold and audacious, even trying to capture you and bring you back? This kind of indignity is absolutely unbearable for me no matter what!"


    Sima Zhantian spoke with a stern cold voice. This man had a full face of beard and a very burly physique which ordingly made him the most hot-tempered among them.


    Ye Feng shook his head with a faint smile and said, "No matter what, the Martial Alliance has a deep connection with me, like a child."


    If a child does wrong, as an adult, one cannot simply resort to hitting or killing. At this moment, Ye Feng probably felt this way ¨C a disappointment yet expecting better.


    His words were clearly understood by Xiao Chuanqi and Sima Zhantian, but to Tan Tiannan and the others, they were utterly baffling.


    Ye Feng then followed up, "Go back and tell Murong Zhantian toe and apologize tomorrow. If he misses tomorrow morning, then he need note. If so, I will go to him!"


    After saying this, Ye Feng turned his wheelchair around and returned to the hall.


    In fact, his words were not yet finished. If Murong Zhantian did note to apologize by morning, the nature of Ye Feng''s subsequent visit would be entirely different ¨C it might not just be an apology that was required, but rather a plea for forgiveness with his life.


    "Now, scurry off!"


    Sima Zhantian radiated a murderous aura, ring with his copper bell-like eyes, "After tomorrow morning, if Murong Zhantian wishes toe, he can, but he better bring his own head when meeting me!"


    Tan Tiannan and the others dared not utter a single word of dissent, nodding repeatedly before scrambling away in total disarray.

 Chapter 95 The Mysterious Lord Mu Tian

    Ye Feng returned to the grand hall inside the house.


    Xiao Chuanqi and Sima Zhantian followed closely behind, not particrly concerned about the Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, but rather, the presence of Hong Qingyan piqued their curiosity.


    After all, over this period, they had realized that the woman who always followed by his side seemed to have a rtionship with their master that was anything but ordinary.


    Xiao Chuanqi cleared his throat twice before asking, "My Lord, there''s a question I''m not sure whether it''s appropriate to ask?"


    Ye Feng turned to look at him and said, "Ask!"


    Xiao Chuanqi bowed slightly and asked, "May I know what the rtionship is between Miss Hong and our Lord?"


    Ye Feng smiled wryly and said, "It seems I have forgotten to formally introduce her to you two. Her name is Hong Qingyan, and she is my... fianc¨¦e."


    Xiao Chuanqi and Sima Zhantian''s expressions stiffened, and without another word, they walked over to Hong Qingyan, bowed, and paid their respects, "We pay our respects to the Princess Consort!"


    Hong Qingyan waspletely stunned, standing there unsure how to react.


    Ye Feng said with a smile, "They are paying their respects to you. As the Princess Consort, you mustn''t be discourteous."


    Finally catching on, Hong Qingyan hesitantly said, "There''s no need for such formalities."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Only then did Xiao Chuanqi straighten his posture,ughing as he said, "Who would have thought, our Lord has indeed faced great misfortune, but it seems he has been blessed with good fortune after all, even finding a wife. If this news were to spread back to the Northern Border, the soldiers would be extremely joyful."


    "Yes, congrattions to our Lord, this is truly a joyous asion!" Sima Zhantian also said with augh.


    They didn''t inquire much about Hong Qingyan''s background, knowing it wasn''t their ce to do so.


    All they knew was that she was chosen by their Lord, and that meant there could be no mistake; her background was of no consequence to them!


    Ye Feng nodded and said, "Once we return to the Northern Border, I will bring the Princess Consort with me to announce to the thousands of soldiers!"


    This statement undoubtedly confirmed Hong Qingyan''s identity as his wife, and for the Northern Border King, his word was as good as gold!


    At that moment, Hong Qingyan''s head buzzed, and her thoughts were inplete disarray. She wanted to say something, but found herself at a loss for words.


    Initially, when her grandfather wanted her to marry the other party, Hong Qingyan hadn''t thought too much about it¡ªeven when she first saw him lying on the sickbed, barely clinging to life, her feelings were mostly of sympathy and pity, not to mention gratitude towards her grandfather.


    Hong Qingyan had not truly considered marrying him at that time, nor had she imagined his identity would be so terrifying¡ªhe was the Northern Border King!


    "He is the Northern Border King, a king who is above ten thousand people under the heavens, and I am just a wild child picked up off the streets, even with ame foot, how could I possibly be worthy of him?" Such a thought suddenly surged in Hong Qingyan''s heart.


    Almost subconsciously, she wanted to voice these thoughts, but seeing Ye Feng''s rare happiness, she couldn''t bear to speak, especially since, during their time together, she had found herself truly falling in love with this man.


    "Big Brother Ye, I am a little tired, I will go to rest now!" Hong Qingyan said, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.


    Ye Feng certainly saw what was on her mind, but realized that constion wouldn''t be appropriate at that moment, so he nodded, "Alright, I have many things to discuss with the two brothers. Go and rest, remember not to worry over nothing!"


    Hong Qingyan nodded and then turned to go upstairs.


    "Seeing off the Princess Consort!" Xiao Chuanqi and Sima Zhantian again bowed, which almost made Hong Qingyan burst into tears ofughter¡ªshe truly wasn''t ustomed to all these formalities.


    Sima Zhantian then turned to look at Seventeen and asked, "By the way, my Lord, I see this person has an extraordinary air about him, who might this be?"


    Ye Feng said, "His name is Seventeen. He was sent by Lord Mu Tian and is currently my personal guard."


    "So he was sent by Lord Mu Tian, that exins it. It''s said that Lord Mu Tian personally trained a Demon Guard. Presumably, this person must be from that Demon Guard, right?" Sima Zhantian asked with a smile.


    Ye Feng remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.


    Lord Mu Tian also held great prestige in the Northern Border, and he shared a brotherhood of life and death with Ye Feng. While Ye Feng was the Northern Border King, Mu Tian was akin to a secondary king, his position even above that of the eight legion chiefs and the Commanding General.


    Even Ye Feng, the Northern Border King, did not fully understand Mu Tian''s Demon Guard.


    Actually, Ye Feng had something he couldn''t figure out; after his own mishap, the one who should have stood up to temporarily take his ce was Mu Tian, but he had remained inactive.


    "Right, after my incident, what exactly has Mu Tian been up to?" Ye Feng asked after some thought.


    "Your subordinate doesn''t know, Lord Mu Tian has always been very mysterious!" Sima Zhantian replied truthfully.


    Xiao Chuanqi, however, appeared thoughtful and after a slight pause, he said, "Regarding Lord Mu Tian, your subordinate does know some things."


    Ye Feng turned and waited for him to continue.


    Xiao Chuanqi then said, "After Your Majesty''s incident, your subordinate sought out Lord Mu Tian, wanting to request that he step in as a temporary Northern Border King to stabilize the Northern Border Soldiers, but in the end, Lord Mu Tian refused, no matter how earnestly your subordinate pleaded, he did not agree."


    Ye Feng nodded, saying, "You were thinking of stabilizing the broader situation by asking him to temporarily take the ce of the Northern Border King, indeed a good strategy. After all, besides me, only he could slightlymand the sincere allegiance of the Northern Border Soldiers."


    Sima Zhantian said, "From this perspective, it appears that Lord Mu Tian''s loyalty is beyond doubt. His unwillingness to step in as regent surely indicates his wish for Your Majesty''s return."


    Ye Feng made noment on this, asking, "When Zhu Guangbo from the imperial Zhu Family came to take over the Northern Border, did Mu Tian make any appearance?"


    Xiao Chuanqi shook his head, saying, "He did not. Lord Mu Tian seems to have vanished during this period, and ording to casual remarks from his personal guard, Lord Mu Tian seems to have been personally training his Demon Guardtely."


    Ye Feng nodded slightly but did not inquire further. Experience tales at empire


    Sima Zhantian said, "If Your Majesty has something to ask Lord Mu Tian, why not directly send him a secret message...?"


    He had barely spoken when Xiao Chuanqi, who clearly had a much subtler mind than the straightforward Sima Zhantian, interrupted him with a meaningful nce, seemingly having discerned something.


    In any case, the recent behaviors and actions of Mu Tian appeared somewhat abnormal.


    "Your Majesty, as long as you do not return, the Northern Border is like a dragon without a head. It seems you must return sooner rather thanter to take charge," Xiao Chuanqi said, bowing.


    "Yes, Your Majesty, once we deal with the Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan tomorrow, we should return directly to the Northern Border, otherwise the military morale will remain unstable over time!" Sima Zhantian also spoke.


    Ye Feng waved his hand, "Let''s discuss this matterter, I have my ns, and now is not the best time to return!"


    Xiao Chuanqi and the other did not say much more, and then the three of them sat at the stone table in the courtyard, chatting over light drinks untilte into the night.


    Ye Feng returned to his room, only to find the light still on in the adjacent bedroom; Hong Qingyan had not yet gone to sleep. Moreover, upon hearing the noise, she immediately came out.


    "Big Brother Ye, have you finished talking?" Hong Qingyan asked.


    Ye Feng asked, "Why haven''t you slept yet? Have you been waiting for me toe back this whole time?"


    Hong Qingyan could onlyugh and say, "I couldn''t sleep, and besides, I''m used to it; I normally attend to Big Brother Ye before I go to sleep."


    Ye Feng, feeling a surge of self-reproach, purposely put on a stern face, "Big Brother Ye''s legs and feet may be inconvenient, but it''s not to the point where I''m a helpless invalid unable to take care of myself."


    Hong Qingyan lowered her head and fell silent, looking pitiful.


    Ye Feng, unable to help feelingpassion, patted the bed beside him, "Come over here and sit down."


    As told, Hong Qingyan walked over and sat down beside him.


    Ye Feng stretched out his hand, gently pulling her into his embrace.


    Hong Qingyan trembled slightly, then rested her head on Ye Feng''s shoulder, and her pretty face involuntarily filled with tender sweetness.

 Chapter 96 Tell Him, This Is His Last Chance!

    A quiet night passed, and the next morning, Ye Feng got up early and sat cross-legged at the head of the bed.


    The sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a faint golden glow over his body, giving him an indescribable aura.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ye Feng took a deep breath before cing his hands on his thighs and forming an ancient Dharma Seal, quickly entering a state of meditation.


    His breathing followed a certain rhythm as he inhaled and exhaled; the naked eye could see the golden sunlight, which was actually vital energy being absorbed into his lower abdomen.


    Ye Feng exhaled deeply, and a white mist emerged from his nose that was half a meter long before it finally dissipated.


    In this way, he entered a rhythmic state of breathing technique and cultivation.


    After an unknown duration, Ye Feng''s initially closed eyes suddenly shed with two rays of golden light.


    At that moment, his inner strength began to surge wildly within him, bing even more robust.


    "Finally, the second acupoint, the Ear Acupoint, has been unblocked!" Ye Feng mused internally.


    Since stepping into the Realm of the Martial King, he needed to unblock the 108 acupoints within the body, and with each acupoint unblocked, the Inner Strength of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians would be more robust. Of course, another huge benefit of unblocking acupoints was life extension and greatly enhanced vitality.


    Furthermore, the inner strength in the muscles and veins could also be stored in the acupoints.


    It is well known that the Eight Extraordinary Meridians are very small, so the inner strength they can store is quite limited. However, unblocking the acupoints is different, as each acupoint can store much more inner strength than the Eight Meridians.


    This is also why martial artists in the Martial King Realm are far more powerful and have more enduringbat power than Huajin Grandmasters!


    "After unblocking the second acupoint, the Ear Acupoint, my hearing has greatly improved!"


    Ye Feng listened intently. Not only could he hear Hong Qingyan making breakfast downstairs, but he could also clearly hear the sound of insects crawling in the courtyard outside.


    "The Realm of the Martial King is truly extraordinary. If all 108 acupoints are unblocked, there would be a massive transformation throughout my body then!"


    Ye Feng smiled faintly, then broke out of his cultivation state, for he had already heard Hong Qingyaning upstairs.


    Just as he exhaled thest bit of turbid air from his body, Hong Qingyan knocked and then pushed open the door.


    "Big Brother Ye, you''re awake. Breakfast is ready. Shall I help you get out of bed now?" Hong Qingyan said with a smile.


    Afterst night''s events, their rtionship had undoubtedly be much closer. Ye Feng nodded.


    He got out of bed, washed up simply, and went downstairs for breakfast. Xiao Chuanqi and Sima Zhantian had not stayed in the vist night and were now briskly walking in.


    "Your subordinates, pay respects to Your Majesty and the Princess Consort!" The two immediately bowed in greeting.


    Ye Feng gestured for them to take a seat, and Sima Zhantian immediately asked, "Your Majesty, has the Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnane to apologize?"


    "Not yet!" Ye Feng shook his head slightly.


    "Damn it, this Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, I think he''s tired of living. What''s his name? Oh right, Murong Zhantian, this old guy really has some nerve!" Sima Zhantian couldn''t help but curse aloud.


    "Why not let me go to the headquarters of the Martial Alliance right now and capture that old Murong thief and bring him here?"


    Ye Feng waved his hand, "No rush. After breakfast, if he doesn''te to apologize, I''ll go look for him!"


    Xiao Chuanqi snorted, "Such a minor Leader of the Martial Alliance deigns to act so arrogant and makes Your Majesty go to him. If that''s really the case, he doesn''t want to live anymore!"


    As the words fell, the sound of thunderous car horns suddenly came from outside the courtyard, indicating the arrival of quite a few people.


    Five cars in total, and four imposing figures jumped out of each vehicle, with Murong Zhantian visibly among them, apanied by the high-level masters of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan.


    Aside from that, Cui Hao and others even brought their family experts with them, and judging by their grand show of force, they were clearly here toy usations.


    "Damn it, that old thief Murong, what does he think he''s doing? This isn''ting to apologize, this ising to use! Has he eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard!"


    Sima Zhan Tian exploded in anger, his burly body rising to his feet, ready to charge out.


    Xiao Chuanqi shook his head and said, "Truly blind as a bat. A mere leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan dares toe andy usations. My lord, just say the word, and I''ll go out and pluck the head off that old thief!"


    Ye Feng was leisurely sipping porridge, spoon by spoon, and waved his hand, "No rush, haven''t finished breakfast yet. If he''s here to apologize, there''s still time. Let''s see what he has to say."


    Of course, from the current situation, it was impossible for Murong Zhan Tian to admit any wrongdoing, but from Ye Feng''s perspective, the Martial Alliance was his creation, almost like his own child.


    Now that the child had erred, he naturally hoped the other party would admit their mistakes and correct them, but now it seemed...


    Ye Feng shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with a frustration of iron not turning into steel.


    Just then, a cold shout came from outside: "Ye Feng, the leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, Murong Alliance Leader''s presence graces this ce, and you''re still noting out to wee him promptly!"


    Ye Feng remained silent, he was still bending his head and eating his porridge, simple pickled long beans paired with white porridge, but he seemed to relish every bite.


    Xiao Chuanqi and Sima Zhan Tian were seething with rage, and at this moment, both were looking to Ye Feng, waiting for him to speak. With just onemand from their lord, they would pounce like fierce tigers to twist off the opponent''s head.


    Even Hong Qingyan was sneaking nces at him from the corner of her eyes at this time.


    "Ye Feng, did you hear that, the leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan, his grand presence visits and you still have note out promptly. Do you really want to seek death?"


    "Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family, our Alliance Leader said that as long as you crawl out and kneel to admit your wrongs, the Alliance Leader in his magnanimity might just spare your life!"


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    "Ye Feng, did you hear that? This is yourst chance,e out and kowtow to admit your mistakes!"


    The person outside kept calling out, and although Murong Zhan Tian had not spoken from the beginning to end, the arrogance and haughtiness could still be seen through his subordinates'' shouts.


    After all, as the Leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan and a Huajin Grandmaster, also being the head of the Gusu Murong Family, he was a top-notch presence in Jiangnan Province. Thus, Murong Zhan Tian naturally believed he had the capital to be arrogant and proud.


    "Ridiculous, he has truly turned against us, to actually have our lord crawl out and kneel to admit wrongs. I have never seen anyone dare to be so arrogant and presumptuous in front of a prince!" Sima Zhan Tian''s hair was practically standing on end.


    "My King, please allow me to go out now!" Xiao Chuanqi bowed again.


    Ye Feng had finally finished eating. His expression remained utterly calm, to him, a mere leader of the Martial Alliance of Southern River Region Jiangnan was nothing but a fart.


    He slowly put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin before finally speaking, "Seventeen, go out and tell that old guy Murong Zhan Tian to kneel and crawl in here. I might just spare his life."


    "Remember, this is hisst chance, otherwise, no mercy!" Ye Feng''s tone was very calm; to him, this was not a big deal at all.


    "Yes!" Seventeen bowed and took the order, then turned to pass the message.


    The members of the Martial Alliance burst into angry shouts upon hearing Seventeen''s message: "What did you say, that Ye Feng dares to demand our Alliance Leader to crawl in on his knees, he truly thinks he can revolt against the heavens!"


    "This Mad Son-inw of the Hong Family seems to be truly beyond his limits in madness, daring to be so arrogantly disrespectful to our Alliance Leader. Not killing this man is insufficient to vent our anger!"


    "We must kill him, our Alliance Leader''s dignity must not be challenged!"


    "Ye Feng, not only is he arrogantly wanton, but he also wishes to swallow the assets of families like Cui Yan''s, he truly deserves death. Alliance Leader, please give your order!"


    Murong Zhan Tian stood at the entrance with his hands behind his back, squinting as he looked inside, he then snorted coldly, "This is really outrageous, all of you, heed mymand. After entering, if anyone dares to resist, kill without mercy!"


    "Yes, Alliance Leader!" In an instant, several of the Martial Alliance''s high-level experts moved, along with the experts from several major families like Cui Yan''s as well.


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