Seeing Ye Chu leave, Ye Jingyun could not help asking Qing Wenting, “What exactly is your relationship with him? He acts so casually in front of you. Even Pang Shao wouldn’t dare just walk away like that when you’re around, and he even refused your invitation outright!”
Tan Miaotong’s gaze also drifted towards Qing Wenting, feeling a touch of curiosity about Ye Chu’s identity.
“He once saved my life, along with Pang Shao and the others. We travelled the continent together for more than half a year. How familiar do you think we are?” Qing Wenting did not hide anything and answered directly. “But I’m quite curious. How could your Ye family bear to drive him out? Ye Chu may not be outstanding in every way, but he’s far stronger than most of those pampered young masters in your Ye family.”
“Far stronger than them?” Ye Jingyun nearly stumbled to the ground. “Are you genuinely unaware of Ye Chu’s reputation, or are you just pretending?”
“Hm?” Qing Wenting asked curiously.
“Fine! Go ask around in Yao City and you’ll find out. You might not know this, but in the entire Yao City, there’s only one person who dares to use the name Ye Chu.” Ye Jingyun laughed.
“Why?” Tan Miaotong could not resist asking out of curiosity.
“Can you imagine someone committing so many evil deeds that the entire city curses him, to the point where no one else even wants to share the same name?” Ye Jingyun shrugged with a smile. “Ye Chu managed it. His infamy is known to everyone in Yao City!”
“Is it really that exaggerated?” Qing Wenting and Tan Miaotong both found it amusing. They wondered how one person could possibly disgust others to such an extent.
“If you don’t believe me, go ask around yourself!” Ye Jingyun turned to Tan Miaotong. “Miaotong, you’d better keep your distance from him. Especially don’t be alone with him. That fellow is capable of anything.”
“Ye Chu isn’t as scary as you make him sound.” Tan Miaotong stuck out her tongue and interjected.
“You’ll know once you suffer because of him!” Ye Jingyun thought to herself that something must be wrong with these women. How could they fall for this guy’s tricks so easily? Qing Wenting was one thing, but even Tan Miaotong, who had only just met Ye Chu, showed no disgust towards him.
“I’m not an idiot!” Tan Miaotong giggled. “Whether he can deceive me or not is still unknown.”
In her heart, Tan Miaotong thought that a young man capable of immersing himself in the beauty of Cold Lake and summarising it with those two lines of poetry could not possibly be as terrible as Ye Jingyun described. If Ye Chu were truly so detestable, how could he remain so calm and indifferent after Qing Wenting had publicly slandered him with those words on the wall?
Ye Jingyun patted her forehead and looked at Tan Miaotong. “You’re not falling for him just because he looked at you, are you?”
The blush that had only just faded instantly climbed back onto Tan Miaotong’s charming cheeks, turning them a vivid, breathtaking red. “Don’t talk nonsense! I haven’t!”
Hearing Tan Miaotong’s coy protest, Qing Wenting could not resist adding, “Let me sincerely remind you of a saying that circulates among us: ‘Devils aren’t frightening, immortals aren’t terrifying. If you don’t want to be tricked, stay far away from that thief Ye Chu.’”
“Giggle! Is he really as terrifying as you all say?” Tan Miaotong could not help laughing, finding the phrase utterly ridiculous.
…
Ye Chu naturally had no idea what the women were saying about him behind his back. After intercepting Pang Shao and using both threats and incentives to ensure the man kept quiet about the General’s Tomb, he finally let him go.
Once Pang Shao was gone, Ye Chu did not linger. He set off directly towards Bai Xuan’s residence.
Even Qing Wenting had been drawn here. That showed just how much commotion the General’s Tomb had caused. Many people were likely rushing towards this place, and there was a very real chance they would find White Leopard.
When Ye Chu returned to Bai Xuan’s residence, he found White Leopard in the main hall. The man’s expression was grave. Seeing Ye Chu arrive, he hurried over. “Where have you been? I couldn’t find you anywhere!”
Ye Chu had never seen White Leopard so anxious. He frowned slightly. “What happened?”
“Yao Yao has been taken!” White Leopard’s face was extremely ugly. He stood there with a dark, gloomy expression, teeth clenched in fury.
“When did it happen? Where’s Sister Bai Xuan?” Ye Chu’s own expression darkened. He scanned the surroundings and did not see Bai Xuan. His heart tightened sharply.
“Bai Xuan is in her room. She was so furious just now she nearly fainted. I made her go inside to rest.” White Leopard replied.
Relieved to hear that Bai Xuan had not been taken, Ye Chu exhaled slightly. “What exactly happened?”
“Didn’t I tell you before? There were people who followed me into the General’s Tomb back then. These past few days I went to meet an old acquaintance and arranged some matters. I happened to run into those people. They recognised me, tailed me back here, and abducted Yao Yao while she was playing outside. They want me to hand over what I obtained from the General’s Tomb in exchange.” White Leopard explained.
“Did they say where? Who are they?” Ye Chu asked.
“People from the Thirty-Six Caves. I know where they are!” White Leopard said. “You have the strength to defeat an Innate Realm expert. That’s why I want to ask you to come with me.”
“Alright!” Ye Chu nodded. He would never stand by and let that adorable little girl he had grown so fond of fall into danger. “I’ll go see Sister Bai Xuan first!”
When Ye Chu entered the inner room, he saw Bai Xuan sitting there. Her beautiful eyes were red and swollen, crystalline tears clinging to her flawless cheeks. She looked so pitiful and fragile that even Ye Chu felt a pang in his heart.
Ye Chu walked over to Bai Xuan. He gently wiped the tears from her face with his fingers. Seeing her long lashes trembling, he reached out and pulled her softly into his arms. Feeling her body stiffen, he patted her back and murmured gently, “Sister Bai Xuan, no one can harm Yao Yao.”
Bai Xuan’s rigid body gradually softened. She began to tremble slightly, fresh tears welling up and sliding down her fair cheeks.
“Yao Yao was raised by my own hands. She’s like my own daughter. How heartless must they be to use a little girl who isn’t even four years old as a bargaining chip?” Bai Xuan bit her lip. Her pale face was enough to melt anyone’s heart.
Ye Chu held Bai Xuan’s soft body close. She seemed to find comfort in him, wrapping her arms around his waist in return and clinging tightly. Ye Chu’s clothes were soon soaked with her tears.
“You have to bring Yao Yao back safely! If anything happens to her, I…” Bai Xuan’s voice quivered.
Ye Chu patted her shoulder until her sobs gradually quieted. Only then did he release her. He helped her stand. “Sister Bai Xuan, how about coming with me to bring Yao Yao home?”
Bai Xuan looked up. Seeing Ye Chu staring straight at her, and noticing the wet patch on his clothes from where she had cried against him, she felt a wave of embarrassment.
“Do you want to change your clothes?” Bai Xuan asked Ye Chu.
“It’s rare to have Sister Bai Xuan’s scent on me. I plan to keep this shirt unwashed for three days.” Ye Chu grinned.
Seeing that even now he could not resist teasing her, the fear and worry in her heart eased considerably. When she saw that Ye Chu really had no intention of changing and was already pulling her outside, her face flushed so red it seemed blood might seep through. Her gaze fell on that damp patch, and a fresh wave of shyness washed over her.
White Leopard watched Ye Chu pulling Bai Xuan along and asked in confusion, “You’re taking her with us?”
Bai Xuan had also realised that with her strength not even reaching the True Qi Realm, she would only be a burden if she went. She wanted to tell Ye Chu she would wait at home. But Ye Chu shook his head. “Come with me!”
“I…”
Bai Xuan started to speak, but Ye Chu cut her off. His voice carried a cold edge. “I’ve been cultivating quietly in Yao City for so long that everyone thinks I’m mild and approachable. It’s been too long since I showed my face. The people from the Thirty-Six Caves must think I’ve gone soft.”
In his heart, Ye Chu thought that after the havoc he had once wreaked on the Thirty-Six Caves, they had actually forgotten. They must believe he no longer killed.