“Sha Country is remote and resource-poor. They cannot cultivate truly powerful practitioners. Lord Chancellor need not worry too much!” Ye Li glanced at Ye Chu, then said mildly, “Yao Country’s victory is certain!”
“Yes! We are all prepared. Sha Country will not be our match!” Chen Bowen echoed from the side. He looked at Ye Chu and added, “Some people have never been trustworthy. Lord Chancellor, do not believe them lightly!”
“Heh!” Su Zhengping could not help glancing at Ye Li. He thought that the Mighty Far Marquis Household truly no longer acknowledged Ye Chu. Yet given Ye Chu’s past actions, it was hardly surprising.
“Lord Chancellor, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave!” Ye Chu smiled at Su Zhengping. He had no wish to linger here and invite further snubs.
Seeing Ye Chu’s indifferent manner, Ye Li’s anger flared. “You survived by sheer luck last time. Now behave yourself, accept your responsibilities, and stop letting people curse you as a street rat and scum!”
News of Ye Chu’s return to Yao City had reached the Mighty Far Marquis Household through Ye Chao. Many in the household felt fury and disgust at the tidings. Had it not been for Ye Chu, would the household be in its current state? All of it was his doing! They could not understand why this worthless scum had come back. Did he think the Ye family would take him in again? Delusional!
Ye Li had loathed Ye Chu for years. Had his father, the Mighty Far Marquis, not always protected the boy, he would have beaten the wretch to death long ago.
When word of Ye Chu’s return reached his father’s ears, the Mighty Far Marquis had seemed to age overnight. These past days, he had been silent and withdrawn.
“What does it mean to behave yourself? To obey meekly, never to have your own thoughts or actions?” Ye Chu, who had turned to leave, paused and looked back at Ye Li. “I am sorry, but in this life, following one’s heart is what matters most. If one cannot act according to one’s own desires, where is the joy in living? If doing so earns me the name of scum and worthless trash, then so be it. What of it?”
“You…” Ye Li flushed crimson with rage at the retort, glaring furiously at Ye Chu. “You insolent wretch! Insolent wretch! Today I shall clean house myself, lest I leave a useless thing like you to commit further evils in this world!”
“Father!” Ye Tian seized his father’s arm and signalled Ye Chu with his eyes to leave first. “Ye Chu is no longer part of our Ye family. If you strike him, what will others think?”
Reminded by Ye Tian, Ye Li swallowed his temper and bellowed at Ye Chu, “Get out! I never want to see scum like you again. Get out of Yao City!”
Ye Chu ignored the shouting and walked a few steps toward the exit. He had no interest in arguing. This uncle had always despised him. Further words would only sour his own mood.
To this uncle, his two sons were his pride, the pride of the Mighty Far Marquis. Ye Chu was merely the household’s shame.
…
“Lord Ye! Why lose your temper over him? He has already been expelled from the Ye family. He is nothing but a pest. Is he worth such anger?” An official beside Ye Li smiled. “You have two outstanding sons. That alone is enough to make us envious!”
“Exactly! In this duel, your two young masters will contribute greatly. Heh, we are counting on you!”
“As for Ye Chu, after the duel I shall send men to drive him from Yao City. Do not be angry. Focus on watching the contest. Losing your composure over worthless scum shows Lord Ye is still not sufficiently calm and detached!”
Everyone coaxed him until Ye Li’s expression softened. He glanced at Ye Chu’s retreating back and snorted. If the boy had even half the merit of his own sons, he would not be so furious. As for Ye Chao’s claim that Ye Chu had defeated Ding Kaiwei in one move, no one in the Mighty Far Marquis Household believed it.
“To live in such a way, utterly abandoned by all. What a failure!”
“Indeed! A useless waste. Rumour said he defeated Ding Kaiwei in a single strike, but now it seems mere gossip. Otherwise why would Ye Li loathe him so?”
“He still dares come here to be humiliated. When Yao City’s practitioners crush Sha Country’s later, will he not feel ashamed?”
“Shame? He has no face left long ago!”
The scene drew attention. People whispered among themselves, looking at Ye Chu with contempt. When he approached, they moved far aside as if proximity might taint them.
“Bastards!” Liang Shan exploded in anger. He had witnessed Ye Chu defeat Ding Kaiwei himself. How could it be false? “Ye Chu, wait till you step onto the stage. Show them how strong you are!”
Seeing Liang Shan more agitated than himself, Ye Chu could not help laughing. Compared to his ruined reputation, such curses were nothing.
“When a dog bites you, do you bite back?” Ye Chu smiled.
“Then you just let them curse you?” Liang Shan stared at Ye Chu in disbelief. His temper seemed far too mild today.
Ye Chu rapped Liang Shan’s head firmly. “Idiot! When a dog bites you, of course you do not bite back. But that does not mean you cannot set another dog on it and let dog bite dog!”
“Eh?” Liang Shan looked at Ye Chu in confusion, not understanding.
But Ye Chu soon provided the answer. A stone appeared in his hand. With a flick of his finger, it flew out and struck the back of one of the men’s heads who had just insulted him.
“Ow!” The man winced in pain and turned to the person beside him. “You just hit me?”
“Hit your mother. You hit the back of my head just now!”
A group that had been cursing Ye Chu suddenly turned on each other, shouting abuse, then shoving and fighting.
Liang Shan swallowed hard, watching the nonchalant Ye Chu. As expected, this fellow was still as vindictive as ever! Better not provoke him in future.
“You’ve been naughty again?” While Ye Chu scanned the surroundings for any beautiful women to admire, Su Rong and Zhang Su’er appeared beside him. Su Rong spoke softly.
“Ah! I never do naughty things! Have you ever seen a saint do wrong?” Ye Chu turned to Su Rong. Her lovely face was radiant, her cool demeanour softened by a touch of allure. Her lashes fluttered, stirring the heart.
“I know it was you! Just like that night! The black-robed man was you!” Su Rong fixed her gaze on Ye Chu. When he opened his mouth to speak, she cut him off. “Do not deny it! I refuse to believe there are so many coincidences in the world! If you will not admit it, I shall simply ask Pang Shao!”
Ye Chu shrugged and looked around for Pang Shao, who had vanished somewhere. Would Pang Shao betray him? Then he remembered he had stolen several paintings of beauties for the fellow. Pang Shao was a thief too now. Feeling reassured, Ye Chu relaxed.
“Then go ask him! Pang Shao loves mischief. Perhaps the child your good friend is carrying really is his!” Ye Chu laughed.
“You…” Su Rong was about to retort when Chen Bowen, Ye Tian, and Ye Chao approached. Chen Bowen stepped beside Su Rong. “Su Rong, why have you come over here? The view is better over there. Besides, certain people will only sour your mood!”
