One Battle to Fame!
The name Ye Chu spread like wildfire among the younger generation of Yao City. Unlike the infamous notoriety of the past, this time everyone was talking about Ye Chu’s strength. The fact that he had defeated Ding Kaiwei shocked them all. No one wanted to believe it was true!
After seeing Ding Kaiwei taken down in a single move, Pang Shao clung to Ye Chu even more desperately, begging him to help reclaim his dignity. But after Ye Chu kicked him several times and told him to get lost, Pang Shao finally behaved himself. He left the residence pitifully, dragging his bruised and battered body away!
“You actually inscribed words on the plaque at Dingwu Hall?” Bai Xuan blinked her beautiful eyes. When she heard the news, her expression was one of extreme astonishment. “Do you even know who hung that plaque in Dingwu Hall?”
Ye Chu gazed at Bai Xuan’s long, delicate eyelashes trembling slightly. His eyes fixed unblinkingly on her flawless face, marvelling at how much effort heaven must have put into creating such an enchantingly beautiful woman. “I didn’t know before. After smashing it, I heard it was inscribed by the king himself!”
Seeing Ye Chu smiling at her with that burning gaze, Bai Xuan could not help glaring at him. She bit her lip lightly and shot him a look that was half angry, half shy. Her eyes overflowed with charm. “Hurry up and take those wandering eyes of yours away! And knowing it was the king’s inscription, you still dared to touch it? Aren’t you afraid the palace will hold you accountable?”
“Sister Bai Xuan, are you worried about me?” Ye Chu smiled as he stared at Bai Xuan. He showed no trace of concern about the plaque. His clear eyes remained fixed on her without shifting even once.
Bai Xuan saw that even after her scolding, Ye Chu’s gaze did not waver. Instead, his eyes grew even more intense, as though determined to peer straight into her heart. A sudden wave of panic rose in her chest. Unable to bear it, she turned her eyes away. She thought to herself: this boy is still so young, yet his gaze is so predatory. There is none of the innocence a youth his age should have!
“I’m too lazy to worry about you!” Bai Xuan rolled her eyes and answered insincerely. “But Yao Yao likes being with you. If something happened to you, she would be unhappy!”
“If Sister Bai Xuan doesn’t care about me, why should I bother with that little brat!” Ye Chu shrugged. “If the palace comes after me, at least it would end this nightmare of playing with mud every day. Sister Bai Xuan doesn’t know the misery of being treated like an idiot!”
“Pfft…” Bai Xuan could not hold back her laughter. Like a night-blooming flower suddenly opening, her smile was bewitchingly charming. She pointed at Ye Chu with mock exasperation. “Serves you right!”
“That expression of yours is the most captivating. No man could resist Sister Bai Xuan’s city-toppling smile!” Ye Chu tilted his head, staring at Bai Xuan. He thought to himself that such a radiant beauty truly had lethal charm that no one could withstand.
“What nonsense are you spouting!” Bai Xuan gave him a playful glare. She had long grown used to Ye Chu’s occasional teasing remarks. This fellow simply could not be judged by the mindset of an ordinary youth.
Unable to withstand Ye Chu’s scorching gaze, Bai Xuan raised her hand to cover his eyes. “That was an imperial-bestowed plaque. The issue is neither too big nor too small. If the palace chooses not to pursue it, then fine. But if they do, you will be in serious trouble. I see that Pang Shao has quite a special status. Let him speak on your behalf. Perhaps he can help you avoid this crisis.”
After spending these past few days with Ye Chu, Bai Xuan no longer felt the same disgust towards him as before. Ye Chu was not as utterly wicked as the rumours claimed. He was simply unrestrained and dissolute in nature, which made people dislike him. But such a carefree and wild temperament should not have to bear the weight of an entire city’s curses!
Sometimes Bai Xuan felt a little sorry for Ye Chu. So young, yet already carrying the curses of an entire city. For a seventeen-year-old, was that not too cruel?
“Mm!” Afraid Bai Xuan would worry too much, Ye Chu casually agreed. But in truth, he did not take the matter of the plaque to heart! The palace would hardly mobilise their full strength over a single plaque! Apart from a very few individuals in the palace, Ye Chu truly had no one he feared!
But for the sake of one plaque, would the palace really deploy those few people? That was obviously a joke!
Ye Chu chatted idly with Bai Xuan for a while. When Bai Bao walked in carrying Yao Yao, Bai Xuan took the little girl into her arms. Seeing that her father seemed to have something to say to Ye Chu, she carried Yao Yao away to give them privacy.
But Yao Yao refused to leave. Ye Chu reached out and gently pinched her little cheek. “Be good! Yao Yao go out first. I’ll come play with you in a bit!”
Yao Yao responded in her soft, milky voice. She blinked her innocent, clear eyes. “Auntie! Big Brother Ye Chu doesn’t want me anymore. Let’s go then! Men’s mouths really can’t be trusted. He said he would play with me, but he always finds excuses to brush me off!”
“Pfft…”
This attempt at acting like a little adult made Bai Xuan burst into laughter. She gave the stunned Ye Chu a sympathetic glance before carrying Yao Yao away.
“Hahaha…” Bai Bao also laughed heartily. “Where did this little one learn that? ‘Men’s mouths can’t be trusted’? I wonder which rascal taught her that!”
Ye Chu shrank his neck guiltily. He felt tears in his heart with nowhere to shed them. He had originally told Yao Yao those things hoping she would not be easily deceived by men when she grew up. Who could have imagined she would use them against him!
“Ahem, Uncle Bai, you wanted to speak with me?” Ye Chu looked at Bai Bao. After these days of recovery, Bai Bao’s spirit and vitality had greatly improved. It would not be long before he fully recovered!
“You have nothing you want to ask me?” Bai Bao looked at Ye Chu with a half-smile. “If not, then I’ll be going!”
“Ah!” Ye Chu had not expected Bai Bao to say this so suddenly. He was caught off guard.
“After spending these days with you, I know what kind of person you are. Lazy by nature, you would avoid trouble if you could. Yet you spared no effort to treat me, even though my body knows full well how troublesome the treatment would be. I also heard you personally went to fetch the three-hundred-year lingzhi. For someone as lazy as you to go to such lengths and pay such a price for something so troublesome, you must have a request!” Bai Bao smiled.
Seeing that Bai Bao had seen through him, Ye Chu laughed. “Maybe I just saw how beautiful Sister Bai Xuan is and had improper thoughts!”
“Hahaha! You little rascal, young but already so cunning! And quite the lecher too! At first, I was worried. After all, your reputation in Yao City is infamous! But when I heard from Bai Xuan that you once gave up demanding she sleep with you as payment, I realised that though you are bad, you are not so rotten in character. Otherwise, do you think Bai Xuan would still treat you with any kindness!” Bai Bao laughed heartily.
Pausing for a moment, Bai Bao continued, “You were able to treat the baleful qi invading my body, so you must have seen where it came from! For someone as lazy as you to go through so much trouble to heal me, you must want something from me, right?”
The words left both men silent. This was indeed Ye Chu’s purpose. He had originally planned to probe indirectly, but he never expected Bai Bao to speak so directly.
“Uncle Bai has sharp eyes! Saving Uncle Bai was indeed for the sake of the great general’s tomb!” Ye Chu did not deny it. “I am very curious. How exactly did Uncle Bai manage to enter? I know full well how terrifying the great general’s tomb is. Even the Supreme Elder of the imperial family did not dare enter. For Uncle Bai to go inside, you must have had some special method. May I know what it was?”
After saying this, Ye Chu’s gaze fixed straight on Bai Bao. This was the secret Ye Chu desperately wanted to uncover!