Zhang Su’er pressed a hand over her mouth. A flicker of utter disbelief appeared in her previously lifeless eyes. The tears that had been streaming down her face like a brook suddenly stopped. Her mind went blank. No matter how wildly she had imagined it, she would never have guessed that this person would be the one to step forward. She stood there in a daze, staring blankly at the youth who had appeared with his hands casually thrust into his pockets, his posture relaxed and defiant.
Su Rong noticed Zhang Su’er’s strange reaction and turned her head in puzzlement. When she saw the scene before her, she too froze, her beautiful eyes fixed on the youth she had previously ignored. This young man, once notorious and despised, was now walking towards them slowly. His steps were unhurried yet steady, and each one made Su Rong’s heart tremble.
The surroundings remained deathly quiet. No one had yet noticed the change on this side. Pang Shao’s earlier bellow had silenced everyone; they did not dare speak, barely even daring to breathe, as if cicadas in cold weather, the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
The youth’s pace was slow, yet both Zhang Su’er and Su Rong had their gazes locked on him. Their crystal-clear hearts quivered with every step he took. The deathly stillness within them quietly began to bloom with a trace of life again.
“Pang Fatty! You’ve caused enough trouble in Yunlong City, and now you’re here to wreck Yao City? Better watch out, or someone will cut that thing off you!”
Just when the oppressive silence made breathing feel difficult, as though dark clouds had blotted out the sky, a mocking shout rang out. The voice was not loud, yet in this frozen hush it exploded like thunder in everyone’s ears.
“Who the hell wants to…” Pang Shao roared in fury. He hated being called fatty more than anything. In the past, anyone foolish enough to say it had their tongue cut out by him. But his furious words halted midway. When he turned and saw that familiar figure, the rest of the sentence died in his throat. He stared at Ye Chu in disbelief, never imagining he would encounter this scourge in Yao City.
At that moment, every gaze snapped towards Ye Chu. Like Zhang Su’er, no one believed Ye Chu would step forward to defend her. Their minds struggled to process it. After a brief silence, the crowd finally reacted, only for sneers to rise in their hearts.
“Reckless fool! He actually dares to interfere!”
“Hah, the scum has changed his ways! Playing hero to save the beauty now!”
“Must be lust-addled! Provoking Young Master Pang means he’ll die even more miserably!”
“…”
These people mocked him inwardly, conveniently forgetting how they themselves had just been suppressing even their breaths under Pang Shao’s intimidation.
Liang Shan stared at Ye Chu, who had now walked into the centre. His mouth hung open, his rather handsome face drained of colour. He had never expected Ye Chu to block Pang Shao. Given the fat youth’s status, dealing with Ye Chu would be as easy as waving a hand to have him torn apart.
“It’s over!” That was the only thought left in Liang Shan’s mind. He glanced at Fang Xinyuan’s group and, sure enough, saw them smiling, clearly waiting for a good show. Fang Xinhu was especially excited. Ye Chu had stepped in and drawn Pang Shao’s attention, which meant Zhang Su’er was safe for now, and this annoying brat would soon be finished off by Pang Shao!
Everyone expected Pang Shao to slap Ye Chu dead with one palm, but that scene never came. What Fang Xinyuan’s group witnessed instead made their hearts pound like shy brides meeting their lovers. They stared wide-eyed, pupils contracting, sucking in cold breaths at the sight before them.
Ye Chu, having walked into the centre, suddenly lashed out with a kick that landed squarely on Pang Shao’s massive backside. “Try cursing me, just try!”
Liang Shan felt dizzy in that instant. He pinched himself hard to stay conscious, propping himself against a nearby table to keep from collapsing. He blinked several times to confirm it was real, then stood frozen, a single thought echoing in his mind: “Ye Chu has gone mad!”
Everyone, including Su Rong, shared the same thought as they stared at the footprint on Pang Shao’s enormous backside. This was a figure even the king treated with respect. In Yao City, who would not bow and scrape before him? Yet someone had actually dared to kick him. Forget Pang Shao himself not letting Ye Chu off; even those in Yao City hoping to curry favour with Pang Shao would now act on his behalf.
Even if Ye Chu had not been expelled from the Ye family, being a Ye family member now might not save him.
Fang Xinyuan’s group, who moments ago had not dared utter a word, now found a target for their outrage and roared at Ye Chu. “Insolence! Fang Xinhu, seize him!”
Fang Xinhu rushed forward eagerly, his hand forming an eagle claw to grab Ye Chu’s shoulder viciously, but his movement abruptly stopped.
Pang Shao, having been kicked, turned around without brushing the footprint off his backside. Instead, he slapped Ye Chu’s shoulder heartily. “Damn! You scourge, how are you here too?”
Their friendly interaction, coupled with Pang Shao’s words, froze everyone who had been about to attack Ye Chu. Their poses hung mid-air, as though time itself had stopped.
Ye Chu had also been stunned to see Pang Shao, never expecting to meet an old acquaintance here. A year ago, while travelling the continent, he had met Pang Shao in the imperial capital and dragged him into several mad escapades. He had not thought he would see him again in Yao City today.
“I knew you were up to no good, so I came to stop you!” Ye Chu shrugged. “After all, I am a man of conscience!”
Liang Shan nearly spat out a mouthful of saliva at those words. The fear he had felt vanished completely. With Ye Chu’s reputation in Yao City, he dared to proclaim his conscience in public? The kind of statement that would invite lightning strikes.
Pang Shao was long accustomed to this man’s shamelessness. It was not the first time he had belittled others to elevate himself, so the words did not surprise him at all. “If I’d known you were here, this young master would never have come, even if you beat me! Seeing you makes me sick!”
Pang Shao felt he must have forgotten to burn incense before leaving home; otherwise, how could he encounter this scourge in a small kingdom like Yao? His memories of this troublemaker ran deep. He had been repeatedly schemed against, yet could never voice his grievances.
A year ago in Yunlong City, the imperial capital, he had met Ye Chu, thinking the newcomer looked easy to bully. Instead, he, the local tyrant of Yunlong City, had been outmanoeuvred time and again, tormented half to death, gnashing his teeth in hatred yet powerless to do anything.
Still, although this scourge had half-killed them with his antics, he had also led them into several wildly thrilling, hot-blooded adventures. They hated him, yet could not help feeling drawn to him!
“Ye Chu and Pang Shao know each other!”
The crowd finally understood, looking at Ye Chu with strange expressions. They were astonished that Yao City’s infamous good-for-nothing could possibly be acquainted with such an important figure from the imperial capital.
Liang Shan found it even more unbelievable. Watching Ye Chu chatting and laughing with Pang Shao, he felt as though he were in a dream.
What exactly had happened to Ye Chu in these three years? To know someone like Pang Shao? This was the heir of an ancient imperial clan! Every ancient clan was mysterious, and their heirs even more so. Ordinary people rarely had any contact with them.
Given that Ye Chu could kick him without provoking anger, the two were clearly close to a certain degree.
Fang Xinyuan’s group also stood dumbfounded. No one had expected this outcome. Their gazes lingered on Ye Chu and Pang Shao, curiosity and confusion filling them about the exact nature of the pair’s relationship.
Su Rong and Zhang Su’er unconsciously clenched their delicate fists, hoping Ye Chu could change Pang Shao’s mind. Their beautiful eyes stared fixedly at Ye Chu, a treatment he had never received before!
