“No, I won’t go.”
Elder Longbrow refused without a second thought.
He wasn’t stupid. He knew exactly what Ye Qiu would face at the Bai family, and he had no intention of being Ye Qiu’s hired muscle.
Besides, Old Master Ye hadn’t even given him the money yet, and now he wanted him to do work? Wasn’t that just like a heartless boss?
Only an idiot would agree!
“Longbrow, you just agreed to be Ye Qiu’s bodyguard for a year,” Old Master Ye said. “As a bodyguard, you should have the awareness that wherever Ye Qiu goes, you should be there too.”
Elder Longbrow sneered, “I didn’t sign any contract with you, so there’s no employer-employee relationship.”
“What do you mean? Are you going back on your word?” Old Master Ye narrowed his eyes.
“Even if you give me five million, I won’t be Ye Qiu’s bodyguard…”
Before Elder Longbrow could finish, the smile on Old Master Ye’s face disappeared, and he said coldly, “Longbrow, you’re the head of a sect. Isn’t it unbecoming to go back on your word?”
So what if I go back on my word? What can you do about it?
Elder Longbrow said, “Anyway, I won’t go to the Bai family tomorrow.”
“You really won’t go?” Old Master Ye’s expression gradually turned icy.
“I said I won’t go, and I won’t.”
“Fine. In that case, don’t blame me for what happens next,” Old Master Ye said sternly, “Shadow.”
Whoosh!
A black figure suddenly appeared behind Old Master Ye and asked respectfully, “Master, what are your orders?”
The moment Elder Longbrow saw Shadow, he sensed trouble. But he couldn’t back down in terms of demeanor, so he shouted, “Old Ye, what are you trying to do?”
“What am I trying to do?” Old Master Ye’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “Since you’re going back on your word, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
“Shadow, beat him up.”
“Remember, be ruthless. Keep hitting him until he agrees to accompany Ye Qiu to the Bai family.”
“Yes!” Shadow responded and began walking toward Elder Longbrow.
Smack!
Elder Longbrow slammed his hand on the table and pointed at Old Master Ye, yelling, “Old Ye, I saved your grandson’s life! Is this how you treat me?”
“Do you have no conscience?”
“The sages said, ‘Wealth cannot corrupt, might cannot bend.’ Let me tell you, my bones are the hardest part of me. Don’t think you can force me to submit like this.”
“Old Ye, leave some room for decency. If you dare lay a hand on me today, I’ll sever all ties with you.”
“One day, I’ll lead the Dragon-Tiger Mountain disciples and raze your Ye family to the ground.”
As Elder Longbrow spoke, Shadow had already reached him.
“Longbrow, I’ve always wanted to test your skills, but I never had the chance. Since we’ve met today, let’s spar. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. After all, you’re Ye Qiu’s savior. I’ll just knock your teeth out.”
“Shadow, don’t get cocky. I’m not afraid of you…”
Thud!
Elder Longbrow took a solid punch to the face.
“Damn it, Shadow! You’re really hitting me? Can’t you go easy? Don’t hit my face… Old Ye, tell Shadow to stop! I’ll go to the Bai family with Ye Qiu tomorrow, alright?”
Elder Longbrow, who had been so arrogant earlier, immediately caved the moment Shadow made a move.
He wanted to stand his ground, but against Shadow, he had no chance.
Not only was he suffering from severe backlash after using the Five Thunders True Method, leaving him unable to use his inner strength for half a month, but even at his peak, he wouldn’t be a match for Shadow.
Shadow, who always followed Old Master Ye around like a servant, was actually a formidable figure.
Thirty years ago, when a neighboring country ambitiously tried to seize an island in the Yellow Sea, they sent over a hundred experts and three martial arts masters to forcibly occupy it, even killing the soldiers stationed there. This enraged the leaders of China.
At the time, Old Master Ye was in his prime and was tasked with handling the situation. In a fit of anger, he sent Shadow to quell the disturbance.
Shadow single-handedly stormed the island and took down the three martial arts masters and over a hundred experts. It was said that the entire island was stained with blood.
From then on, the neighboring country behaved itself.
Shadow became famous overnight.
Old Master Ye also gained the favor of the highest leader at the time and quickly rose through the ranks. Within a few years, he became one of the most powerful figures in the country, second only to the top leader. In ancient times, he would have been a powerful prime minister.
It could be said that Shadow played a significant role in Old Master Ye’s rise to power.
Of course, aside from fearing Shadow’s skills, there was another reason Elder Longbrow didn’t dare challenge him: Shadow had a formidable disciple.
This disciple was none other than Ye Wudi, the third son of the Ye family.
Ye Wudi’s exceptional martial arts skills were honed under Shadow’s guidance.
It was even rumored that Shadow was the one who introduced Ye Wushuang, the God of Slaughter, to martial arts. Whether this was true or not, outsiders couldn’t say for sure.
In short, Shadow was a force to be reckoned with, and anyone who crossed him would regret it.
This was why, after Shadow punched him, Elder Longbrow didn’t dare fight back and instead begged for mercy.
Hearing Elder Longbrow’s plea, Old Master Ye said, “Longbrow, I’ll ask you one more time. Are you sure you’ll accompany Ye Qiu to the Bai family tomorrow?”
“I’m sure,” Elder Longbrow nodded vigorously.
Old Master Ye said, “This isn’t some stalling tactic, is it? You agree now, but tomorrow you’ll sneak away?”
That was exactly what Elder Longbrow had in mind, but he couldn’t admit it, or Shadow would beat him up again.
“Old Ye, how can you think of me like that? A real man keeps his word. If I say I’ll go, I’ll go.”
“Good.”
Old Master Ye gave Shadow a look, and Shadow quickly returned to his side.
Elder Longbrow finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself, “Just you wait. First thing tomorrow, I’m leaving the capital and heading back to Dragon-Tiger Mountain.”
“Longbrow, since you’ve given me your word, I’ll be blunt. If you dare sneak away tomorrow, I’ll send Shadow to wipe out Dragon-Tiger Mountain,” Old Master Ye said with a cold, murderous glint in his eyes. “You know I always keep my word, and Shadow has the strength to do it.”
Elder Longbrow’s face stiffened, and he cursed inwardly, “Dammit, I shouldn’t have come to Old Ye for money. Now I have to accompany Ye Qiu to his death tomorrow. What a loss.”
Elder Longbrow said, “Old Ye, I told you earlier that after using the Five Thunders True Method, I suffered severe backlash and can’t use my inner strength for half a month. If Ye Qiu encounters danger tomorrow, I might not be able to help.”
Old Master Ye smiled, “That’s fine. As long as you accompany Ye Qiu to the Bai family, that’s enough.”
Elder Longbrow breathed a sigh of relief.
Old Master Ye then added with a smile, “If Ye Qiu dies at the Bai family, I’ll have you buried with him.”
