Chapter 106: An Unexpected Visitor: Ye Mo's Authority.
The men were all of similar size and build, and each wore a black suit that was tight fitting and made of heavy leather. The front was adorned with silver buckles that glinted in the light, a stark contrast to the dull fabric. Each man had a belt around his waist with various weapons like swords, knives, daggers holstered in it. All of them had a determined look on their faces as they surrounded Liu Minger, Long Shin and others.
Ye Hao smiled like he had already won "I had sent out these men, expecting that perhaps you had someone looking over you covertly, but now I'm not sure if it was really necessary."
"What do you-"Liu Minger wanted to say something, but before she could finish her words
"young miss!!" Cha Ying voice made her turn her head.
Liu Minger's icy voice trailed off as Cha Ying let out a sharp cry. Liu Minger looked over and saw her limp body slumped on the ground. Gently, she helped Cha Ying up, only to find her body was scorching hot. With blazing eyes, she spun around to Ye Hao and demanded "What did you do?".
Ye Hao chuckled maliciously, "So the poison's finally beginning to take effect!"
Liu Minger paled when she realized she had been poisoned. "You poisoned us," she said accusingly.
He laughed again and nodded, "That's right. Everything you three ate was poisoned."
Fury boiled within her, frustrated that she hadn't seen through his ploy in time. "If anything happens to them, I'll make sure you're buried ten feet underground," she said coldly, her words like a chill from beyond the grave.
Ye Hao shivered for just a moment before regaining his composure and smiling. "Don't worry," he assured her. "This poison isn't fatal; it will just immobilize you for a while."
Miss Liu glared at Ye Hao and said, "You will pay for this!"
Ye Hao smiled in response and said, "Why make things difficult? All I have to do is escort you to some place and after that we can part ways. It's a win-win situation for both of us."
"Yes," he added, "you can even do some good deeds along the way."
"You won't be able to escape from here," Ye Hao's voice boomed. "My men have already sealed off all your escape routes and you're completely surrounded."
Ye Hao sneered at the sight of Liu Minger and her companions, surrounded in the center of the room. "Isn't it better to just accept your fate than fight it ", he said maliciously.
Ye Hao was starting to feel a bit too confident for his own good when a composed voice broke the silence. "Is that what you really believe?" Everyone looked to see Long Shin, who appeared unbothered by the situation in front of him, addressing Ye Hao with an inquisitive expression.
"What did you say, kid? You really think you can get away from us? Every single one of these people here is an expert Black Iron magister! Not to mention that all three of you have been poisoned by me," Xiao Hai snickered. "Even if they're magisters, the poison should keep them immobilized for a while. So tell me again, do you actually think you can escape from us?"
"Sigh," Long Shin sighed before saying, "It seems like there's been some confusion. I didn't say anything about escaping... why would I need to run away from some street dogs? What I wanted to ask all of you was this: do you honestly think it's you who have us surrounded?" He flashed a cheeky grin and caused Ye Hao to become uneasy.
One of the black-clad men scoffed, "Don't lie to us. We already thoroughly scouted this building and the area around it before the dinner started - there's no trace of any weird activities." He pulled out two daggers stained with old blood.
"Long Shin..." Liu Minger felt a chill as she looked at them. She knew how strong he was, but having to face so many opponents was daunting.
Even the mightiest warrior can't fight off dozens of adversaries. Cha Ying, however, couldn't keep her eyes open; her body shuddered in fear.
"Hm," Long Shin laughed, then abruptly stood up in front of everyone. Ye Hao stared at him as though a ghost had appeared, "How is this even possible? It should be impossible to move after eating that poison!" He wasn't the only one taken aback; all of the Black-Iron experts and Xiao Hai were shocked at Long Shin's power.
"What sorcery did you use?" Ye Hao demanded coldly, his uneasiness growing with each passing second. Xiao Hai was equally astonished; he'd given the chef at Green Garden the poison himself, so he knew exactly how effective it was—even if someone was a magister, they would still be paralyzed for five minutes.
"Impossible for you doesn't mean it's impossible for me," Long Shin sneered, clearly mocking them.
Long Shin paid no heed to the others' shock; instead, he gently smiled at Liu Minger, whose eyes were filled with concern for him.
He said in an even tone, "Don't worry, even if their forces are ten times greater than what they had now, I'll still take us out of here without a single injury." Whether it was because she truly believed in him or she simply wanted to cling onto the last strand of hope, her expression lightened a bit, and his reassuring voice brought her some peace.
Seeing that she had calmed down, Long Shin lightly patted her head and said, "Just wait here for a while. I promise this will be done within a few minutes at most, okay?" Hearing him, Liu Minger nodded as a small smile appeared on her rosy lips.
Ye Hao spoke with malice, his words heavy and threatening. "So, what if you haven't been poisoned? Do you think you will escape my men?" he said as they got ready to attack. His suspicions that Long Shin had somehow cured himself of the poison further suggested the possibility that he was a powerful Black-Iron rank Magister.
However, regardless of who he was or his strength, they would be attacking him with full force and try to take him down as quickly as possible.
The men in black all tensed up, ready to pounce on Long Shin like wild animals.
Just before they acted, a deep and aged voice resounded throughout the area, causing them to hesitate. Even though it sounded like an elderly person's voice, it was still commanding enough to make their movements stop. "I will see who dares harm my friend," the voice declared.
...
Thud!
With a Loud sound the door was flanked open, and an old man walked in.
He wore old, ancient style eastern robes. His head was filled with white hairs that reached on the sides. He had a long beard and wrinkles around his eyes that testified to his age and wisdom. But what made him stand out even more was his presence: it felt like each of his steps brought forth an aura of authority and power that commanded respect from everyone present.
The man's gaze fell upon the group gathered around Long Shin as he slowly walked towards them, every step creating an ominous pressure that weighed heavily on all those present. Even Ye Hao couldn't help but take a few steps.
back when the old man passed by him, lowering his body.
Finally arriving at Long Shin's side, the old man bowed deeply while saluting "Ye Mo greets senior."
The words reverberated throughout the room, causing everyone to freeze in shock and confusion. Who was this old man? Why was he addressing Long Shin as senior?
Ye Hao's expression was pale as realization washed over him. "Grandfather, is that you?" He asked while stuttering.
He was stunned to see an old man, whom even his father had to show respect to, so humble in front of him. 'Is he from one of the five giants?' he wondered.
The old man Ye Mo didn't even glance at him, nor did he react to Ye Hao's question, but all the men in black clothing had stopped their actions and looked at Ye Mo with respect and fear in their eyes.
Ye Mo then scanned the group, his gaze settling on Ye Hao for a moment then continuing, each of them with a cold intensity that made them shiver.
He then spoke in a slow and solemn voice: "I see that you all have quite a lot of free time, huh."
every member of the Ye Family who heard him had chills behind their back.
The voices rumbled like thunder, and the door was thrust open. A quartet of imposing figures strolled in. Two middle aged men, broad and tall, were followed by two middle aged women who emanated a confident aura. Behind them, an intimidating procession of dignified individuals followed with fixed gaze and unflinching steps. "Dad, what's going on?"
"Why did you bring us here so quickly?"
Ye Mo's two sons, Ye Liang and Ye Zeng, had been the ones to speak.
Ye Liang is an impressive figure. He stands at six feet tall, with a strong build that fits his look; his black hair is carefully combed, and he sports a well-groomed beard, giving him a dignified appearance. His dark brown eyes ooze authority as he wears finely tailored clothing which accentuates his confidence and strength. His Intermediate Black-Iron rank Magister reveals his high level of cultivation. Despite his age, he looks young and handsome only looking like he is in his mid-thirties at most.
He was also the current Head of the Ye family, having the authority to mobilize the whole power of the Ye family. He was cunning and vengeful person who could go to any lengths to reach his goals and keep his enemies in check and attack as soon as he got an opportunity.
Behind him was his wife, Ye hao's mother Sun Xifeng. Although not from one of the Hegemonic families, the Sun family is also a cultivation bloodline with ancient roots in the city, putting them among the top 20 families.
Sun Xifeng is an attractive woman who looks younger than she is. Her mature figure is tantalizing and graceful; her dark hair falls down her back, highlighting her delicate features, and her almond-shaped eyes, a hypnotic hazel color, captivate those around her. She wears luxurious clothing that matches both her beauty and poise, making it impossible to ignore her presence. Her elegance makes all eyes turn to her.
Despite her pretty face, Sun Xifeng had a cruel glint in her eyes. She was very selfish and judged people by their material possessions. The only ones she cared about were her son and husband.
There were two more people standing with the first two: Ye Zeng and his wife Zou Qingzhao.
Ye Zeng's broad frame projected a sense of strength and confidence. His muscled body and carefully groomed hair gave him a look of distinction. His intense blue eyes suggested determination and command, further enhanced by the formal clothing he wore. His overall air of power was intimidating, for it made clear that he could control his surroundings.
Ye Zeng wasn't born as gifted as his brother Ye Liang, yet he still managed to reach Intermediate phase of Black-Iron rank after persistent effort. What he lacked in cultivation talent, he made up for with fighting abilities; this earned him great reputation in the family. Unlike the ambitious Ye Liang who would go to any lengths to achieve his goals, Ye Zeng was just a simple man who wanted peace and harmony for himself and his loved ones, and to cultivate until he reached nine stages of Black-Iron rank like his father.
Trailing behind him was his wife Zou Qingzhao. She too came from a cultivation family, but hers wasn't as influential as Sun's.
Her hourglass figure, graceful posture and chestnut hair looked stunning next to her alluring features. Her green eyes conveyed intelligence and sensuality, and her fashionable attire made her even more attractive. She had a sophisticated aura that was mixed with an inviting air of seduction that left people captivated by her enigmatic smile.
Ye Liang and his wife approached with stern faces, looking at their son, who was being stared down by Ye Mo. They knew that their son had likely done something to anger the old master.
"Father, what has happened? What did Xiao Hao do?" Ye Liang asked with anxiety. Sun Xifeng also stepped forward; her eyes filled with worry. "He's still a child. Maybe if it's nothing too serious, we can give him a minor punishment and be done with it."
At other times, Ye Mo might not have said anything to them in front of everyone else or it would tarnish the reputation of the Ye family head position, but this wasn't one of these occasions.
"What are you doing, Sun? Stand up! You might get injured," Sun Xifeng attempted to help Ye Hao to his feet, just when the latter was starting to rise from the ground.
"Did I tell you to stand up...?" Ye Hao let out an aura of an advanced Black-Iron rank magister, making Ye Hao kneel back down. The aura had an effect on Sun Xifeng as well, pushing her to kneel beside her son.
Ye Liang and Ye Zeng stared in disbelief, 'Is this the power of an Advanced Black-Iron Magister?' they thought inwardly.
It had been quite some time since their father had revealed his power as an Advanced Black-Iron Magister before, and Ye Liang had almost forgotten about the immense pressure that came with absolute realm suppression between Intermediate and Advanced levels of Black-Iron rank magisters. But still, he needed answers from his father on how long his wife and son could last under this pressure.
Gathering courage, he spoke up: "Father, why are you so angry? I know Xiao Hao did something wrong, but it can't be that bad for you to force him to kneel. What did my wife do? All she wanted was to help Xiao Hao out."
"BE QUIET!!!" exclaimed Ye Mo, firmly silencing the man before he could say another word. Ye Liang felt as if he were facing a wild beast rather than his father.
Ye Mo took a few deep breaths to rein in his anger, then bowed deeply to Long Shin. "I apologize, senior; I failed to properly supervise my family's youth, causing you difficulty." Ye Liang and Ye Zeng and their wife hadn't been present earlier when Ye Mo had greeted Long Shin respectfully, so they were shocked to see him bowing.
'Xiao Hao must have caused some serious trouble this time,' Ye Liang thought as he noticed Liu Minger and the immobilized Cha Ying. It seemed that he already knew Ye Hao had tried to abduct Liu Minger somewhere, and it might've been Ye Liang himself who had authorized mobilizing the experts who had broken into the private booth through the door and windows earlier. 'Things are getting really out of hand.' He stiffened internally.
Long Shin spoke in an icy voice that sent chills down Ye Mo's spine. "It's a good thing you showed up on time, or your grandson might have had the Ye family kill me and my companions," he said. Before sitting down to eat, Long Shin had secretly sent a message to both Ye Mo and Han Yong to come to the private booth at the Green Garden straight away.
Liu Minger and Cha Ying were taken aback by his frigid manner of speaking, as if he were talking to the deceased. Liu Minger kept her composure, but Cha Ying was visibly trembling; she couldn't believe how the same handsome young man who had been chatting cheerfully that morning could now speak with such an unforgiving tone. His whole disposition had changed.
Ye Mo sensed that Long Shin was deeply enraged, his voice more frigid than when he'd attempted to use realm suppression on him.
Even though there wasn't any aura pushing him down, the chill of the voice was enough to make his bones nearly turn to ice.
Ye Mo immediately said, "Senior, please tell me what I can do to soothe your anger." He knew that if he didn't make amends with Long Shin, the entire Ye family would suffer from his wrath--the wrath of someone who could subdue an advanced Black-Iron-level Magister without a fight. He had no intention of experiencing it himself.
Long Shin sneered at the master & servant duo of Ye Hao and Xiao Hai and said, "Let's see: first your grandson tried to court my woman, then he revealed his intentions to abduct her. Plus, he even poisoned our food and threatened to kill me!" But every statement came out in a commanding tone devoid of any jest.
Ye Mo was almost scared to death by what he heard this grandson of his had been up to—'he even poisoned their meal, and courted the demon lord's women in front of him; did this guy eat a leopard's guts when he was born?' thought the old man, nearly losing his voice.
Long Shin asked him "What are you going to do about this guy?!"
Ye Hao's face turned pale as he watched his grandfather thinking about what should be done with him. "No, grandfather, father—this guy is lying! I didn't do any such thing," he blurted out, only one thought running through his mind: 'I can't let grandfather know that I poisoned the meal.' His hope was that if he denied it, no one would believe it and then even Long Shin would have to let this matter rest as well.
'No matter if the boy is from a rich Beijing family, he won't be able to overpower the Ye family, even a dragon can't defeat a local snake', Ye Hao declared internally.
"Father, I can't believe you're trusting what this stranger said," Ye Liang expressed his anger.
"That's right, Father-in-Law. We must have faith in my son. Everyone must be lying; perhaps they're trying to harm him, which is why the family guards had to intervene," his wife chimed in. But the couple still couldn't comprehend why their father wasn't afraid of Long Shin despite believing him to be some privileged young master from an affluent family. Little did they know that this seemingly unassuming man holds enough power to crush their entire clan.
Zou Qingzhao wanted to stand up for Ye Hao as they belonged to the same family, but before she could even open her mouth, Ye Zeng stopped her with a shake of his head. He felt an instinctive warning about Long Shin; something that told him this person was dangerous.
Unlike his brother, Ye Zeng had a battle instinct that allowed him to gauge whether he would win or lose against his opponent. As soon as he heard Long Shin's cold voice, it was screaming at him not to fight.
Ye Mo scowled at the pair in front of him, his brown eyes filled to the brim with fury. "Both of you, keep quiet. This situation wouldn't have come about if you had kept a better eye on Ye Hao. Now that he has made a mistake, he should be held accountable," he spat out harshly.
He then turned to Long Shin and spoke in a calmer voice. "Senior, I leave it up to you to decide his punishment. Do whatever you feel is necessary for this transgression." With that said he bowed his head in respect.
Long Shin's lips curved into an evil smirk. It was as if Ye Mo had said exactly what he had wanted him to say. "I suppose crippling his cultivation abilities so he can never cultivate again would be suitable punishment!" His words descended onto Ye Hao and his parents like invisible devils' whispers.
Ye Hao wailed in despair, "No! Grandfather, you can't do this to me!"
Ye Mo sighed sadly. It pained him immensely to take such drastic action against his own grandson, but he had no choice; it was for the good of the Ye Family. 'At least I'm not being asked to kill him,' he thought, relieved that his punishment would still allow the boy to live. "You should have considered your actions before offending a senior," Ye Mo said as he advanced towards Ye Hao, ready to strip him of the ability to cultivate forever.
Ye Zeng and Zou Qingzhao were surprised to realize that Ye Mo was actually going to cut off Ye Hao's cultivation.
Liu Minger, who was beside Long Shin, was also stunned when she heard Long Shin command this. She knew well what it felt like to not cultivate while living in a family that placed so much emphasis on it. Not having the ability to cultivate would be like existing in an eternal hell: each passing day would feel like an eternity.
Though she had her family to provide her with both mental and emotional support, she still felt the weight of the times. Whenever she ventured out in public, ordinary people praised her as a business prodigy, the daughter of the Liu Family. But when she encountered members of other clans from younger generations, although they put on a pleasant face outwardly, behind her back they denigrated her, referring to her as a wastrel or cultivation trash.
"Father, I won't let you destroy my son's future," Ye Liang stepped between them.
"Ye Liang, step away - this is an order!" Ye Mo angrily commanded his eldest son.
"How can you do this to my sweet child?" Sun Xifeng snapped back, launching into a tirade against the old man.
"You—!" Ye Mo was speechless, both his son and daughter-in-law rebuking him in such a manner.
Ye Zeng could not ignore his brother's rudeness toward their father. "Stop it, Brother. No matter what, you cannot disrespect Father."
Unnoticed by the family, Long Shin smiled inwardly. 'The play has just begun!' he thought to himself.
"What gives you the right to dictate who I should respect or choose my son's path in life?" turning on her father in law and brother-in-law Sun Xifeng asked heatedly.
Ye Mo shouted "That's enough! I will cripple Ye Hao and you both will go to Villa 8 until I let you out."
Ye Liang spoke with a stern voice, like he had come to some sort of conclusion. "Father, you leave me no other option. I was going to let you live for a few more weeks, but I guess that's not the case anymore."
He lightly clapped his hands and most of the people who had just arrived with him and those who had attacked Long Shin before quickly pulled out their weapons and assumed a battle-ready stance. Surprisingly, they were all targeting Ye Mo?
...
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