Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Ye Family’s Dilemma
The leaders of the two great families were dumbfounded by the news from their spies.
To assassinate Ye Xuan while he was protected by Luo Zhan, a First Layer Earth Martial Artist and instructor at Xingxuan Academy, and three Third-Layer Martial Master captains of the City Guard, they would need to dispatch at least two or three of their own elder-level experts.
But elders were different. They were high-ranking figures in the two great families and couldn’t be dispatched so easily.
More importantly, the two families were already facing the wrath of the City Lord’s Mansion and were struggling to cope. Sending experts to kill someone right under the noses of a Xingxuan Academy instructor and three City Guard captains would be like pouring oil on the fire. It would be a complete slap in the face to both the Xingxuan Academy and the City Lord’s Mansion.
If that happened, the very foundations of their families could be damaged.
Thus, in this sensitive situation, the two families couldn’t make a move, no matter how badly they wanted Ye Xuan dead.
’Forget it. Let the boy live a few more days. Once we’ve calmed the City Lord’s Mansion’s anger and completely crushed the Ye family, won’t we be able to deal with him however we please?’
And so, they temporarily abandoned the idea of assassinating Ye Xuan. After all, their plans were already in motion. The Ye family would never survive the winter under the combined wrath of their two families.
After riding at a furious pace for three days, Ye Xuan’s party successfully returned to Cyan Mountain Town.
Cyan Mountain Town was one of the larger towns under the jurisdiction of Blue Moon City, but its atmosphere was completely different. As far as the eye could see, tall mountains and sprawling forests dominated the landscape. While it lacked the hustle and bustle of Blue Moon City, it possessed a unique charm of its own.
Along the way, Ye Xuan’s party saw herb farmers everywhere, tending to their fields in a bustling scene of activity.
It was said that Cyan Mountain Town was the primary source of medicinal herbs for Blue Moon City and its surrounding regions. The town’s pleasant climate and beautiful environment were ideal for cultivating herbs, and it supplied sixty to seventy percent of the raw ingredients for the entire area.
Ye Xuan also found many memories of Cyan Mountain Town from his body’s previous owner.
At the very least, he had a clear understanding of the Ye family’s relationships and dynamics.
As they entered the town, their surroundings immediately grew lively. All sorts of markets and shops lined the streets, and the air was filled with the endless cries of vendors hawking their wares. Though it lacked grand and luxurious buildings, the bustling scene of people and carriages was nearly on par with the trading district in Blue Moon City.
The Ye family was the most powerful clan in Cyan Mountain Town, so their estate was naturally located right in the town’s center.
The carriage carrying Ye Xuan’s party of five slowly made its way toward the Ye family estate.
"Hey, have you heard? The Ye family seems to be on the decline. The Li and Liu families have teamed up and already swallowed a lot of their businesses."
"I never thought the great Ye family would be pushed into such a corner by the Li and Liu families. It’s unbelievable."
"Yeah. In terms of market share, the Ye family used to be dominant, controlling most of Cyan Mountain Town. To think such a huge family would just crumble under the combined pressure of the Li and Liu families. It’s really unexpected."
"Heh, what do you know? You think the Li and Liu families could take down the Ye family on their own? Together, they only have a thirty percent market share in Cyan Mountain Town. That’s nothing compared to the Ye family’s sixty percent. The truth is, the Wang family of Blue Moon City is pulling the strings."
"You mean the Wang family, one of the three great families of Blue Moon City?"
"No wonder! I was wondering why all the apothecaries and such have been refusing to buy any herbs that come from the Ye family. So that’s the reason."
"The Wang family is one of Blue Moon City’s three great families, and they specialize in the potion and Pill business. With them backing the Li and Liu families, it looks like the Ye family is really done for."
As they passed through Cyan Mountain Town’s commercial district, Ye Xuan overheard a great deal of gossip about his family, and his brow furrowed slightly. ’Even the local herb sellers are talking about the Ye family’s troubles. It seems the situation is truly grim.’
In less than half an hour, the carriage arrived at the Ye family estate.
The main gates of the Ye family estate stood wide open, yet there wasn’t a single person in sight.
Ye Xuan frowned. Before he could even alight from the carriage, two guards rushed out from inside, shouting, "Who do you think you are? You can’t park a carriage here! Get lost!"
Before they could finish, the two saw Ye Xuan stepping down from the carriage. A barely perceptible sneer, tinged with disgust, appeared on their faces. "Well, well, if it isn’t Young Master Xuan."
None of the Ye family’s servants were unaware of Ye Xuan’s reputation as a good-for-nothing. The news of his dead martial soul and crippled meridians had long made him the laughingstock of Cyan Mountain Town. As a result, even the family guards treated him with mockery and scorn, showing none of the respect due a young master.
Ji Ling and the others accompanying Ye Xuan frowned.
"Take this carriage back to the Dingsheng Horse Stable. Here’s the rental agreement." Ye Xuan didn’t even look at the two guards. He produced a piece of paper and spoke as he started walking inside.
"Heh, sorry, Young Master Xuan," the two guards said nonchalantly, not taking the agreement. "We’re on duty. You’ll have to return the carriage yourself."
Ye Xuan stopped in his tracks. He turned and shot them a cold glance. "Heh. Busy?"
’Busy? A moment ago, when they were supposed to be on guard, they were nowhere to be seen. It’s obvious they have no respect for me.’
For some reason, Ye Xuan’s gaze made them shiver. It was as if they were being stared down by an ancient, ferocious beast, and a sense of panic inexplicably welled up inside them.
"You’ll return this carriage whether you want to or not. Otherwise, get out."
Ye Xuan shoved the agreement into one of the guard’s hands. After saying his piece, he turned and strode into the estate.
The two guards wanted to retort, ’Who the hell do you think you are in the Ye family?’, but under Ye Xuan’s icy glare, the words wouldn’t come out.
"Hmph!" Ji Ling and the others snorted. Their gazes, sharp as daggers, fell on the two guards with undisguised disdain before they followed Ye Xuan into the estate.
Only after the group had completely disappeared from sight did the two guards shudder, a cold sweat breaking out on their backs.
"What was that? Why did Young Master Xuan’s gaze feel so terrifying?"
"And who were those people with him? Their auras were terrifying."
"Forget it. I’ll take the carriage back for him. Better not to ask for trouble..."
Entering the Ye family’s main courtyard, Ye Xuan frowned.
The entire courtyard was deserted. ’This would have been impossible, based on my memories.’
The Ye family normally had many servants. Ye Xuan had planned to ask one of them to show Luo Zhan and his party to the guest rooms, but now he couldn’t find a single person. He was rather puzzled.
’What’s going on? Where is everyone?’
Suddenly, his sharp Profound Sense detected a faint stir coming from the direction of the Ye family’s main hall.
He quickened his pace, only to find a stark contrast. While the rest of the courtyard was deserted, this area was bustling. A crowd of Ye family servants was gathered outside the main hall, craning their necks to peek inside.
"Ye Zhanxiong, don’t play these games with me! I know exactly what your Ye family is worth! Today, with Steward Wang here as a witness, I’ll tell you straight: you’re selling those manors of yours. You’ll sell them whether you want to or not!" a hoarse, incredibly arrogant voice bellowed.
Ye Xuan and his party heard the man’s shouting before they were even close.
"Li Haoran, don’t push it! The Ye family is not to be trifled with!" An angry, familiar voice shouted back. Ye Xuan recognized it as his uncle, Ye Zhanxiong.
"Not to be trifled with? Hmph. Ye Zhanxiong, you need to see the situation for what it is. It’s not me who wants your manors—it’s the Wang family. Do you really think the Ye family can stand against them?" the hoarse voice sneered.
"If you want someone to blame, blame your own Ye family for producing a piece of trash like Ye Xuan, who went and offended the Wang family’s young master. Or, I can give you another option: hand over that father-son pair, Ye Zhanyun and Ye Xuan. The Wang family might consider leaving your family a way out." Li Haoran’s tone was overbearing, laced with a cold sneer.
From a distance, Ye Xuan’s brow twitched. His Profound Sense was so powerful that his hearing surpassed even Luo Zhan’s, allowing him to hear the distant conversation with perfect clarity.
’Li Haoran... Isn’t that the Patriarch of the Li family?’ Ye Xuan dredged the name up from his memories. The man was also Li Yue’s father.
In fact, the Li family had always depended on the Ye family to survive. The only reason they had become one of the other two major families in Cyan Mountain Town was because of their good relationship with the Ye family. Li Haoran had even acted like a subordinate in their presence, always showing the utmost respect and humility.
When Ye Xuan was younger, Li Haoran, despite being the Li family’s Patriarch, had always addressed him deferentially as "Young Master Xuan," a testament to his servile nature.
’Who would have thought that after latching onto the Wang family, the Li family would become so arrogant? Now he’s calling Ye Zhanxiong by his full name and calling me trash. It’s a complete reversal of his once-deferential and boot-licking demeanor. A classic case of a petty man hitting it big.’
Luo Zhan and the others frowned as they listened. It was clear the Ye family was in dire straits.
When the eavesdropping servants saw Ye Xuan approaching, they scattered like startled birds and feigned busyness, pretending to sweep the nearby grounds.
"Instructor Luo, Ji Ling, the rest of you wait out here. I’m going in alone."
Ye Xuan’s voice was placid, betraying no emotion as he walked toward the closed doors of the main hall.
"Young Master Xuan, your safety..." Ji Ling said with concern. ’Commander Lin ordered me to stay by your side at all times. I absolutely cannot let any harm come to you. Even if I die, you must live.’
"Don’t worry. This is the Ye family estate. I doubt the Li and Liu families would dare to try anything here." Ye Xuan let out a cold laugh. "Of course, if they do try something... that would be even better. I’ll make sure none of them leave this place alive."
A cold glint flashed in Ye Xuan’s eyes. ’Some people,’ he thought, ’are long overdue for a lesson.’
