Chapter Twenty-Nine: Fame Throughout the Capital! (II)

Jiang Ming and his followers were swiftly taken away by the ambulance.

Yang Ye, after buying the dress Long Xiaoqing had her eye on, finally left the boutique with her.

“Husband, did I cause trouble?” Long Xiaoqing asked with a frown once they stepped outside.

Yang Ye shook his head. “No, Xiaoqing, you did nothing wrong. They were the ones at fault, trying to bully others with their status. If you run into people like that again, you can give them another beating!”

“Mm!” Long Xiaoqing nodded vigorously.

Yang Ye planned to stay a few days in Xiajing, so he booked a suite at the city’s finest hotel for himself and Long Xiaoqing.

He wasn’t the least bit worried about retaliation from the Jiang family. If they had the guts, they could send a late-stage Stellar Realm expert after him. As one of the capital’s great families, the Jiangs certainly had such people, but no one would bother over a trivial matter like this. After all, Yang Ye hadn’t killed anyone—he’d only broken a few limbs. With a cultivator’s recovery ability, they’d be fine in time. It was merely a lesson for Jiang Ming.

Even if a Stellar Realm master did come for him, Yang Ye wouldn’t be afraid.

What Yang Ye didn’t expect was that, while he and Long Xiaoqing were enjoying the hotel’s fine food in their room, his name was already spreading throughout Xiajing’s elite circles.

Without Yang Ye even needing to introduce himself, a quick search online by appearance alone would reveal everything he had set as public information.

What drew people’s attention wasn’t that he’d broken Jiang Ming’s leg, but the strength he had shown. A late-stage Planetary Realm expert had been felled by a single punch—just how strong was Yang Ye?

Of course, among those paying attention, Yang Ye was known as Ye Tianzu.

Every family in Xiajing, even the Bureau of Star Martial Affairs, was watching him closely.

“Ding-dong—”

Yang Ye was peeling a large prawn for Long Xiaoqing when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” Long Xiaoqing called out, jumping up and hurrying to the door.

Standing outside was a middle-aged man, smiling cordially.

“Mr. Ye, my surname is Cui—Cui He. May I come in and have a word with you?” the man said, still smiling as he caught sight of Yang Ye.

“Please, come in,” Yang Ye replied calmly with a nod.

Cui He entered somewhat nervously and stopped before Yang Ye.

“Please, have a seat, Mr. Cui! Xiaoqing, could you fetch Mr. Cui a drink?” Yang Ye said with a smile.

“Of course!” Long Xiaoqing replied cheerfully, heading for the fridge. She was always diligent about such small tasks, finding a strange happiness in them.

“No need, no need, please don’t trouble yourself!” Cui He quickly waved his hand.

But Long Xiaoqing was quick and handed him a bottle of orange juice. Cui He had no choice but to accept it, repeatedly expressing his thanks.

“Mr. Cui, please, state your business,” Yang Ye said with a smile.

“Mr. Ye, it’s like this,” Cui He said directly. “Our Cui family has taken note of your strength and would like to invite you to become head of our security force. The old master is offering a salary of two billion martial coins a year. Would you be willing?”

He looked at Yang Ye with open expectation.

Two billion martial coins was by no means a small sum. For reference, a late-stage Planetary Realm cultivator would earn less than a billion annually for guarding a home.

Now Yang Ye understood Cui He’s purpose. He hadn’t expected that after crippling a few of Jiang Ming’s men, someone would come to recruit him as a guardian. But on reflection, it was natural. For any family wishing to thrive or even just maintain their resources, recruiting powerful cultivators—true “talent”—was essential. That was why, when Yang Ye killed Yang Haishan, Zhao Fei had tried so hard to stop him. In this world ruled by cultivators, might made right.

Yang Ye smiled. “I only defeated a few minions. Surely that’s not worth the Cui family’s attention?”

Cui He shook his head. “Your strength is plain for all to see. Perhaps you don’t know, but Ding Li—the man whose arm you shattered—was among the very best Planetary Realm experts in Xiajing. That you defeated him so easily proves your power.”

After Cui He finished, Yang Ye shook his head and refused. “I’m sorry, Mr. Cui, but I must decline. You can rest assured that I never tie myself to any one family.”

Cui He left with visible disappointment.

He wasn’t the first. Less than half an hour later, the doorbell rang again.

This time, a beautiful woman stood at the threshold. With both charm and poise, she spoke with Yang Ye and even hinted that, if he agreed, he would not only receive a salary of three billion martial coins a year but also have her as a companion.

Because the visitor was a beautiful woman, Long Xiaoqing was thoroughly indifferent.

What pleased her was that Yang Ye had no interest in the woman either; after just a few words, he “sent” her away.

She had been sent by the Wang family.

In the hours that followed, several more envoys came, each politely refused by Yang Ye.

As night fell, Yang Ye was caught off guard when Jiang Ming himself—leg in a cast, leaning on a crutch and carrying a box—appeared at his door.

Yang Ye was momentarily surprised to see him.

“Mr. Ye, I’m sorry! It was all my fault earlier. I’ve come to apologize,” Jiang Ming said with a forced smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Then, smirking, he added, “May I come in?”

Yang Ye nodded.

He didn’t offer Jiang Ming a seat, so Jiang Ming remained standing, leaning on his crutch, and placed the box on the coffee table. “Since I’m here to apologize, I had to bring a gift,” he said, opening the box.

Inside was a severed human head—the very woman surnamed Li from earlier that day.

At the sight, both Yang Ye and Long Xiaoqing frowned in disgust.

Jiang Ming smiled. “This woman dared to offend you, Mr. Ye. Her death is well deserved! I hope you’re satisfied now.”

Yang Ye replied coolly, “It’s all in the past. I don’t care. If you have business, speak plainly.”

Jiang Ming nodded and stated his purpose: the Jiang family was trying to recruit Yang Ye.

For such a proud clan, this was already a considerable concession. Anyone else would have been tempted. But Yang Ye turned him down without hesitation.

In the end, Jiang Ming left, carrying the severed head and biting back a cold smile.

In truth, this was the outcome Jiang Ming wanted most. If Yang Ye had really joined the Jiang family, having to see that face day after day would have been unbearable. Now that Yang Ye had refused, Jiang Ming could go home and add fuel to the fire, perhaps provoking the old man into sending assassins after Yang Ye at any cost. As long as Yang Ye lived, Jiang Ming would be the laughingstock of Xiajing.

This visit had cost Jiang Ming dearly: he’d lost his dignity and even sacrificed his beloved woman. How could he not hate Yang Ye?