“Apprenticed to one of the Moon Shadow Sect’s Ten Great Elders, becoming a Direct Disciple?” “Breakthrough to the Martial Spirit Realm at nineteen?” Each piece of information exploded in Yue Ya’s mind like thunderclaps.
What astonished her most was that the middle-aged man before her was none other than Wu Bailie, the Prefecture Governor of Wulian Prefecture!
A powerhouse at the Martial King Realm, he usually stood aloof and imperious, yet now he was speaking to Ye Feng with such warmth and deference, even a hint of ingratiation in his expression!
At that moment, Yue Ya finally understood why Ye Feng had said she couldn’t escape his control in Wulian Prefecture.
It wasn’t the Ye Clan’s influence he relied on, but his own strength and status!
Yue Ya sneered inwardly at Zhou Changshu’s recent attempt to provoke Ye Feng.
The gap between their status and strength was as vast as the difference between clouds and mud.
How dare Zhou Changshu presume to compete with Ye Feng?
Yue Ya resolved to cling to Ye Feng’s coattails at all costs!
Zhou Changshu remained oblivious, once again caught in the crossfire and scorned by his goddess.
Looking at the Mid-grade Spirit Stones in the cloth bag before him, Ye Feng immediately understood Wu Bailie’s intentions.
News of his dual-realm breakthrough in a single day must have reached the imperial court, prompting Wu Bailie to seek him out for an alliance.
In Great Qin, the Imperial Dynasty and the Sects were like the Sea King and Sea Queen, constantly pulling at each other in a dance of love and conflict.
Though they maintained a facade of civility, even uniting against other dynasties in war, beneath the surface, friction simmered and rivalry burned.
Their competition for talented disciples knew no bounds.
A disciple from another sect might have hesitated, torn between accepting the dynasty’s favor and worrying about their sect’s suspicions.
After all, if the sect found out, they might distrust you, making it impossible to advance further within their ranks.
No more sect life for you!
But Ye Feng showed no such hesitation.
He accepted the pouch without a second thought and tucked it into his robes.
Not only that, he planned to make a grand spectacle of it.
After all, if the Imperial Dynasty was offering such generosity, how could the Moon Shadow Sect afford to be stingy?
As for the Moon Shadow Sect suspecting him of ties to the Imperial Dynasty and plotting against him, Ye Feng remained utterly unconcerned.
He wasn’t even going to the Moon Shadow Sect’s headquarters.
With the mountains vast and the emperor distant, what could the sect elders possibly do to him?
Next, Ye Feng immediately recycled the fifty Mid-grade Spirit Stones into the System.
A System notification instantly chimed in his ear: Ding!
Recycling successful.
Congratulations, Host, for gaining 5,000 Salted Fish Points.
Seeing his Salted Fish Points reach 16,383, Ye Feng’s face broke into a satisfied smile.
“Many thanks, Prefecture Governor!” Ye Feng cupped his hands in a bow to Wu Bailie, then turned without hesitation and walked toward his courtyard.
Yue Ya hurried after him, leaving Wu Bailie and his attendants dumbfounded.
Wu Bailie had never imagined Ye Feng would accept his gift so readily.
Wasn’t he afraid of arousing suspicion from the Moon Shadow Sect?
But even more astonishing was that after receiving the gift, Ye Feng showed no gratitude whatsoever, simply turning and leaving.
Wasn’t this just blatant freeloading?
At that moment, Wu Bailie felt utterly played, like a complete sucker.
But chasing after Ye Feng to demand the Spirit Stones back was utterly impossible.
Doing so would incur Ye Feng’s undying enmity.
Any hope of recruiting Ye Feng to serve the Imperial Dynasty would be dashed forever.
“Prefecture Governor, your esteemed presence is an honor!
Forgive my tardiness in welcoming you!” Just then, having received word of his arrival, Ye Nanshan rushed out to greet him, offering his apologies.
But the smile on Ye Nanshan’s face, in Wu Bailie’s eyes, seemed like mockery directed at him—the great sucker.
“Hmph!” Wu Bailie snorted coldly without a word and turned to leave.
Ye Nanshan’s face was filled with bewilderment, unable to fathom what he had done to offend the Prefecture Governor.
Could it be that Ye Feng becoming a Direct Disciple of the Moon Shadow Sect has displeased the Imperial Dynasty with my Ye Clan?
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Ye Nanshan, and a thought crossed his mind.
When gods clash, mortals suffer.
Caught between the Imperial Court and the Sects, two towering powers locked in conflict, Ye Nanshan could only endure the pressure, a mere pawn in their struggle.
Before Ye Nanshan could regain his composure, a servant from the Drunken Immortal Tower arrived.
“Patriarch Ye, the Drunken Immortal Tower is settling monthly accounts.
Your total expenses for this month amount to 150,000 taels of gold.” “Will you be paying in gold or Spirit Stones?” Hearing the servant’s words, the Ye Clan guards around him each recalled the most tragic moments of their lives, barely suppressing their laughter.
Ye Nanshan had always portrayed himself as a righteous gentleman.
Not only was he strict with himself, but he also demanded unwavering discipline from every member of the Ye Clan, from top to bottom.
Yet behind closed doors, he was living such a lavish lifestyle.
Ye Nanshan himself was stunned, his first reaction being that the Drunken Immortal Tower had made a mistake.
Surely I would know if I had visited the Drunken Immortal Tower?
But when he saw the bill the servant handed him, bearing the bold characters “Ye Feng,” Ye Nanshan instantly understood everything.
“That unfilial son!” “My lifetime of hard-earned reputation, all ruined by you!” Ye Nanshan roared skyward, his voice filled with despair.
But Ye Feng was now a Direct Disciple of the Moon Shadow Sect.
How could he dare publicize Ye Feng’s brothel visits?
If the Moon Shadow Sect learned of this, smearing their Direct Disciple, the Ye Clan would face utter annihilation.
With a grim expression, Ye Nanshan reluctantly paid off Ye Feng’s debt with fifteen Low-grade Spirit Stones, taking the blame himself.
Just as Ye Feng reached the courtyard gate, Yue Wu suddenly appeared, blocking his path.
Her gaze froze as she stared at Yue Ya behind Ye Feng, her face a mask of disbelief.
“Ye Feng, you bastard!” She spat the curse and turned to flee.
Ye Feng remained calm, as if he had anticipated this reaction.
He had brought Yue Ya back precisely to provoke Yue Wu and force her to leave.
Judging by her reaction, Yue Wu still hadn’t let go of him, even after being reborn.
But Yue Wu carried too much baggage.
To live in peace, he needed to distance himself from her.
“Young Master, who is this elder sister?
Why does she have such a fiery temper?” “Unlike me, who only feels sorry for you!” Having resolved to follow Ye Feng, Yue Ya immediately began demonstrating her tea ceremony skills.
“Oh?” Ye Feng showed no anger whatsoever, instead asking with genuine interest.
“Do you think her temper is excessive, bordering on irrational?” Hearing Ye Feng’s words, Yue Ya immediately adopted a pitiful tone.
“I just feel it’s unfair to you, Young Master!” “What right does she have to lose her temper at you?” With that, Yue Ya stole a glance at Ye Feng.
Seeing the righteous indignation on his face, she finally felt reassured.
But Ye Feng’s next words caused her expression to change drastically, as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.
“You’re absolutely right!” Ye Feng gave Yue Ya a thumbs-up.
“So what if she’s the Saintess of the Moon Shadow Sect?
What’s with the airs?” “Yue Ya, don’t worry.
The next time I see Senior Sister Yue Wu, I’ll be sure to convey your words and make her deeply reflect on her mistakes!” ****** Read the entire novel + more than 20 other completed novels (Korean,