“What’s the matter? Surprised?” Ye Chu smiled at Bai Xuan, his gaze unable to resist lingering for a moment on her alluring, captivating figure, her voluptuous curves that stirred his heart. This woman’s beauty had already transcended mere prettiness.
When Huang Yong’an saw that Ye Chu and Bai Xuan seemed to know each other, he frowned with some displeasure. “If Miss Bai Xuan does not wish to proceed with this transaction, then Huang will take his leave at once!”
“Wait…” Bai Xuan quickly said, paying no further attention to Ye Chu for the moment. “Please treat my father!”
“That’s more sensible!” Huang Yong’an laughed. “Then come with me. Once I have obtained what I want, Huang will certainly cure your father!”
Seeing Bai Xuan bite her lip and prepare to follow behind Huang Yong’an, Ye Chu suddenly burst out laughing. “Are you really going to go with a fraud? Don’t come crying with regret later!”
Bai Xuan’s steps halted abruptly. She turned her head to look at Ye Chu, waiting for his explanation.
Being stared at by a pair of bright, beautiful eyes, Ye Chu answered her unspoken question. “Do you truly believe this group of useless quacks can rid your father of the baleful qi in his body?”
These words caused Huang Yong’an’s expression to change dramatically. He could not help shouting loudly, “Where did this mad brat come from, spouting nonsense here? Get out at once, or don’t blame Huang for dealing with you personally!”
Ye Chu completely ignored the other man’s roar. He pointed at the man lying on the bed and said, “Let him try touching your father’s body. See if he dares to probe with his true qi?”
Bai Xuan looked at Huang Yong’an with suspicion. Huang Yong’an panicked and avoided her gaze. How could Bai Xuan not understand now: the other party simply could not treat her father at all!
“You’re courting death!” Huang Yong’an saw Bai Xuan staring at him with fury and hatred. He knew his scheme had been exposed and felt boundless resentment towards Ye Chu. Baleful qi invading the body was extremely dangerous. Not to mention him, even alchemists from the imperial court would be unable to save this man. He had boasted so boldly earlier only to obtain Bai Xuan. Yet everything had been ruined by this suddenly appearing youth.
“What? Ashamed into anger now? No surprise there. You’ve been lusting after women so desperately that your hormones are completely out of balance. Losing control of your temper is perfectly normal!” Ye Chu looked at Huang Yong’an with a smile, still utterly disregarding the other’s rage.
“Huang indeed cannot treat him! So what? But can you find anyone else who can? At the very least I can extend your father’s life by a few days! If I do not act, your father will not survive tonight!” Huang Yong’an snorted, suppressing his anger as he looked at Bai Xuan. “If you agree to my terms, at least you will have time to find someone else to treat your father. There may still be a chance. But if you refuse, your father dies tonight!”
Bai Xuan’s heart sank into the abyss. Huang Yong’an was the best alchemist in this region, a figure who had almost been summoned to the imperial court. Precisely because of this, Bai Xuan had invited him despite knowing he was a scoundrel. If even he could not treat her father, then who could? Where could she find anyone else in such a short time?
“Boasting shamelessly! Acting like you’re somebody important! With that pathetic level of skill you still dare to strut around here!” Pang Shao sneered, his gaze shifting away from Bai Xuan. Inside he was thrilled. Yao City had not been a wasted trip after all. To encounter such a seductive, mature beauty here. Yao City truly produced stunning women!
“And who do you think you are, daring to criticise Huang!” Huang Yong’an glared furiously at Pang Shao and cursed him outright.
Who was Pang Shao? Even the king of Yao treated him with courtesy! How could he tolerate being berated by such a person? “This young master will teach you today how to behave! And show you exactly who this young master is!”
Pang Shao’s furious shout drew a scornful laugh from Huang Yong’an. Although he was an alchemist, he had also stepped into the path of cultivation, reaching the first lower grade of the ‘refining one’s own primal spirit’ realm, making him a third-layer true qi practitioner. Such strength was already something many people looked up to. Among the young generation in Yao City, few could match him.
Seeing Pang Shao prepare to act, Huang Yong’an felt extreme disdain!
Ye Chu also disliked Huang Yong’an. Watching Pang Shao about to explode, Ye Chu said calmly, “Some people really do need a proper lesson. Being a scoundrel so incompetently will only embarrass our whole circle if word gets out.”
Pang Shao nodded vigorously in agreement.
“By the way! This fellow looks ridiculously exaggerated, his face has such low resolution. At first glance he’s ugly, and the more you look the uglier he gets. Remember to go easy on him later. Help him get recast from scratch. I personally can’t stand fat people. Beat him until he’s slimmer!” Ye Chu did not forget to remind Pang Shao.
Pang Shao, himself a fat man, nearly exploded with rage. He had agreed completely with the first part. But what was wrong with being fat? Had being fat offended you?! Did fat people have no rights?! Was it necessary to despise fat people so much? And beating someone until they became slim, what kind of impossibly difficult request was that?
Pang Shao did not dare vent his anger on Ye Chu, so naturally he transferred it to Huang Yong’an. It was all this fellow’s fault for being fat and dragging him into it!
The other alchemists watched Pang Shao charge towards Huang Yong’an with sympathy, thinking that youthful recklessness came with a price. A third-layer true qi practitioner could tear apart fierce tigers. With those skinny arms and legs of yours, how could you possibly stand a chance?
Huang Yong’an was equally disdainful. Yet the moment he met Pang Shao’s seemingly unremarkable punch, his expression changed drastically. He felt as though a massive force had struck his chest. His entire body was sent flying.
Even Bai Xuan and the others were stunned by the outcome. None of them could have imagined that this fat youth would be so formidable, severely injuring a third-layer true qi practitioner with a single move. In Yao City, youths with such strength could be counted on one hand, yet no one had ever heard of this person.
Amid the crowd’s shock and silence, only Ye Chu was smiling as he teased Yao Yao. “Don’t be afraid. They’re just putting on a monkey show for you!”
Yao Yao half-understood and nodded innocently. “But there aren’t any monkeys that fat!”
Hearing these words, Pang Shao staggered and nearly fell to the ground. Not wanting to hear Ye Chu’s voice anymore, Pang Shao dragged Huang Yong’an out of the room. He wanted to study exactly how one could beat a person until they became slim!
The fact that Huang Yong’an was utterly helpless in Pang Shao’s hands terrified the other alchemists who had followed him. Their expressions were filled with horror. When Ye Chu’s gaze swept towards them, they scattered in panic and fled, not daring to remain here a moment longer.
“Don’t go…” Bai Xuan watched as not a single alchemist stayed behind. Her heart filled with desperation. If they all left, her father would surely die.
“Ye Chu! Can you ask your friend to stop beating Huang Yong’an? I’m begging you. My father needs him!” Bai Xuan’s eyes were red. She could not watch her father die right in front of her.
“Uh… You still believe that quack can treat your father?” Ye Chu looked at the woman before him, who now carried another layer of tragic yet beautiful allure, and shook his head helplessly.
“What else can I do? I can’t find anyone better!” Bai Xuan cried out.
“Who said you can’t find anyone?” Ye Chu suddenly said. “I have a better candidate right here.”
“You can find an alchemist? Where?” Bai Xuan was overjoyed. Her gaze burned as she stared at Ye Chu, hope shining in her beautiful eyes.
“Far in the horizon, yet close at hand!” Ye Chu shrugged.
Bai Xuan suddenly fixed her stare on Ye Chu. “It’s you!”
Doubt appeared in Bai Xuan’s eyes. This notorious scoundrel of Yao City, a greater alchemist than Huang Yong’an? What a joke?