In Zhu Fengcheng’s account, Ye Chu roughly understood the situation.
The Qingmi Mountain branch territory was situated in a resource rich area, naturally occupying many resources, such as mines and forests abundant in medicinal herbs. But where there are people, there is contention. Recently, an extremely powerful force had emerged, competing with the Qingmi Mountain branch for resources.
Originally, this was nothing unusual. The two sides had been competing for many years, neither able to overcome the other. In the end, a balance had been reached. But this balance had recently shifted.
A young man had appeared in the opposing force, a youth of exceptional strength. Zhu Fengcheng had fought him once and returned in defeat. The young man had even declared that within seven days, the Qingmi Mountain branch must hand over half of their resources, or he would unleash a massacre.
Although the Qingmi Mountain branch had elders presiding over it, the opposing side was equally formidable. Unless it was a matter of life and death, the elders would not intervene. This was because there was an unwritten rule on the Path of Heavenly Prodigies. Everything was to be decided by the younger generation. The older generation could only protect, not compete.
Moreover, the other side also had elders who could fight. Therefore, they were helpless and could only seek Ye Chu’s assistance.
Half of their resources, they were unwilling to give up. Furthermore, even if they handed them over, it would not guarantee peace. If the opponent could take half, they could take more. They would be forced to retreat step by step.
Ye Chu’s abilities were extraordinary, and they had witnessed them. If Ye Chu was willing to act, perhaps he could help them overcome this calamity.
“Is the opponent very strong?” Ye Chu asked curiously.
Zhu Fengcheng nodded. “Very strong. So strong that he does not even regard me as a threat. That is why I was fortunate to escape with my life. If he had wanted to kill me, it would have been effortless. His strength has likely reached the peak of the Profound Destiny Realm.”
“The peak of the Profound Destiny Realm!” Ye Chu murmured, wondering if the blood of such a person would be of great use to Xi Xi.
“I beg Senior Brother to help!” Zhu Fengcheng prostrated himself on the ground again, unwilling to be trampled upon. He could accept that Ye Chu was a disciple of Qingmi Mountain, but he could not tolerate outsiders humiliating their dignity.
“Let us go and see!” Ye Chu replied directly.
Ye Chu’s single sentence left everyone stunned on the spot. They looked at each other in surprise. They had not expected Ye Chu to agree so readily. They had seen Ye Chu’s laziness with their own eyes. They had originally thought it would be extremely difficult to get Ye Chu to agree, which was why they had knelt here to beg.
“Truly!” Zhu Fengcheng was overjoyed.
Ye Chu paid him no mind. He turned to look at Zhang Lan, tilted his head back, and took a light sniff of her hair. “Not enough force. Movements are stiff.”
Zhang Lan’s face flushed red. It was her first time massaging someone. To achieve this level was already quite good. But hearing Ye Chu’s criticism, she did not dare to argue back a single word.
“If you are to be a woman, be like Yang Hui!” Ye Chu said to Zhang Lan. “In future, learn properly from Yang Hui!”
Having said this, Ye Chu stood up, paying no attention to Zhang Lan, who was flustered and at a loss. He looked at Yang Hui and said, “You and Yang Ning stay here. Take this item. Study the jade manual that the Golden Baby left for you. I hope you master it soon.”
“Young Master!” Yang Hui looked at the Fairy Hairpin Ye Chu handed over. Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest. She stepped back two paces in fright.
The Fairy Hairpin appeared unremarkable at this moment, but she had witnessed its terrifying power and knew what kind of object it was. It could be described as a peerless treasure of the world.
Even within the Sacred Clan, it was one of the most top tier artifacts. Such a treasure, and Ye Chu was actually giving it to her. How could Yang Hui dare to accept it?
Ye Jingyun was also startled. He had not expected Ye Chu to give the Fairy Hairpin to Yang Hui.
“Take it!” Ye Chu frowned at Yang Hui.
Yang Hui still did not dare to take it. She stared blankly at Ye Chu and said, “An item like this, Young Master should give it to a beloved companion. Yang Hui does not dare to accept it!”
Ye Chu glanced at Yang Hui, took her hand, and firmly placed the Fairy Hairpin into it. “My beloved companion, I will refine something for her myself. Even if it is not as good as the Fairy Hairpin, I am only willing to give her such an item.”
Hearing Ye Chu say this, Yang Hui looked at him with dazed eyes. Suddenly, she felt a pang of jealousy. Although the Fairy Hairpin was priceless, and perhaps Ye Chu would never find anything comparable in future, let alone refine something of similar calibre, Yang Hui understood that the value of an object did not represent its place in his heart.
Yang Hui did not know which woman could make Ye Chu treat her in such a manner.
Only then did Yang Hui accept it, standing silently to one side. Ye Chu reached out and gently touched Yang Hui’s delicate face. He smiled and said to Zhu Fengcheng, “Let us go. Let us see what sort of person this is?”
“I am coming too!” Ye Jingyun naturally would not miss this excitement. He followed behind Ye Chu, hand on his weapon, very much implying that if Ye Chu dared to complain, he would cut off that part of him.
Ye Chu glanced at Ye Jingyun and ignored him. Following behind Zhu Fengcheng, the numerous disciples marched out of this place in great numbers.
…
“Which is their most valuable mine?” Ye Chu suddenly asked Zhu Fengcheng after they had walked out.
“It is the Red Iron Mine in the northwest!” Zhu Fengcheng replied.
“Then let us go there. Take it over!” Ye Chu said calmly.
“Senior Brother! That is their most precious mine. If we…”
Before the disciple beside Zhu Fengcheng could finish his sentence, Ye Chu slapped him. A sharp crack rang out violently in the air. Ye Chu’s furious roar erupted. “When this Young Master has made a decision, where do you get the right to speak? Get back to the branch territory!”
This thunderous rage left everyone silent and trembling. No one had expected Ye Chu to be so violent, so completely different from his usual self.
Ye Jingyun looked at the disciple prostrated on the ground, trembling. He could not help but feel disdain for Ye Chu. A perfectly good situation. If Ye Chu had just spoken a few kind words, these disciples would likely have become loyal to him, devoted to Ye Chu wholeheartedly. But this fellow had to provoke conflict instead.
Ye Chu’s strength and status made these people swallow their anger, but they would not be loyal to him either.
Ye Jingyun did not believe Ye Chu could not think of these things, yet he still acted this way. He thought to himself that Ye Chu truly was a madman. He did not wish to be a good person, but seemed uniquely fond of playing the role of a bully who oppresses men and dominates women.
Zhu Fengcheng’s expression was also unpleasant. But looking at Ye Chu’s calm face, as if nothing had happened, he patted the shoulder of the disciple kneeling on the ground. “You go back to the branch territory!”
The disciple left reluctantly. The others looked at Ye Chu with even greater awe.
“Does doing this make you happy?” Ye Jingyun could not help asking Ye Chu.
“I simply feel that speaking takes effort. This method has obvious results. Also, no one will ask me endless questions or chatter on in front of me.” Ye Chu replied to Ye Jingyun.
Ye Jingyun clenched his fists and held back. This scoundrel. Just for such a lazy excuse, he had offended everyone?
To be lazy to this extent was also a kind of mastery. It was the first time he had seen someone throw away a group of loyal subordinates and turn them into resentful enemies, all to save a few drops of saliva.
“His head must be filled with excrement!” Ye Jingyun cursed inwardly.