“Just now… were you trying to make a move against this Young Master?”
Faced with Ye Wudu’s question, Xing Xiuyuan’s entire body trembled.
He immediately dropped to both knees and pressed himself to the ground, shouting, “This lowly one was blind and failed to recognize you. Young Master, please forgive my offense!”
Ye Wudu casually lifted a nearby wine jar and took a drink. “Good wine!”
At the same time, he beckoned to the two alluring beauties beside him.
Even Xing Xiuyuan was kneeling… how could the women dare refuse?
They approached Ye Wudu nervously. Without hesitation, he reached out and groped their soft curves, causing them to cry out in alarm.
Their eyes darted toward Xing Xiuyuan, yet they also feared Ye Wudu, caught in complete helplessness.
Ye Wudu sighed lightly. “It seems Hall Master Xing has been living quite comfortably.”
Xing Xiuyuan replied with a serious expression, “If Young Master likes them, you may take them as personal maids. It would be their honor.”
If it was women he wanted, every woman in North Desolation City was his to choose from. Xing Xiuyuan naturally didn’t care.
Rumors said the Young Master was indulgent and fond of beauty… it seemed they weren’t wrong.
Ye Wudu released the two women and let out a cold laugh. “My identity must not be exposed. You know what to do.”
Xing Xiuyuan was briefly stunned. Then, Demonic Qi surged from his palms.
With a flick of both hands, two streaks of Demonic Qi shot out.
“Whoosh, whoosh—”
In the blink of an eye, the foreheads of the two beauties were pierced. They collapsed slowly to the ground…
Xing Xiuyuan withdrew his earlier disdain. This Young Master was nothing like the rumors… he was ruthless.
Ye Wudu nodded in satisfaction. “Go release my man. Do not expose my identity.”
“Yes!”
Xing Xiuyuan rose and decided to handle the matter personally.
He moved swiftly, breaking into a run. He feared that if anything happened to Li Mazi, he wouldn’t be able to explain it…
Inside the prison of North Desolation Hall…
Li Mazi was enduring torture.
His body was covered in whip marks, along with burns from branding irons.
There wasn’t a single piece of intact flesh left on him, yet he clenched his teeth and said nothing.
He didn’t know how long he could hold on… he only hoped his gang leader had the ability to save him.
“Hehe! Quite the tough one, aren’t you? If you confess early, why suffer like this?”
“Speak! Is your new gang leader Ye Yuan? Was he the one who killed Liu Long and Zhou Yuanyuan?”
“As long as you tell the truth, I can plead with Hall Master Xing for you!”
…
As the interrogator spoke, several more lashes struck down, tearing Li Mazi’s flesh open.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! I barely know the new gang leader… I’m innocent!”
Li Mazi knew full well that Liu Long had been killed by Ye Wudu. After all, he had been the one to pass along the information, and shortly after, Liu Long died.
Even a fool could piece that together.
But he couldn’t say it. Saying it would still mean death.
He could only gamble.
Gamble that the gang leader could save him.
Though the hope was slim… it was the only path to survival.
All his life, Li Mazi had lived by gambling.
Yet he was still alive now… which meant his luck hadn’t run out.
“Good! Very good! Since your mouth is so tough, your teeth must be tough too. I’ll pull them all out first.”
The torturer took out his tools and approached with a sinister grin, preparing to escalate the punishment.
Li Mazi’s body trembled, despair filling his eyes. He didn’t know if he could survive this round.
“Stop!”
At that moment, a thunderous shout echoed through the prison.
“Greetings, Hall Master Xing!”
All the torturers and guards inside the prison immediately dropped to their knees, not knowing why the hall master had suddenly arrived.
Seeing that Li Mazi was still alive, Xing Xiuyuan let out a sigh of relief.
“Who did this to him?”
His face turned cold as he demanded loudly.
The torturer responsible trembled and raised his hand. Judging from the hall master’s expression, this wouldn’t end well.
In truth, it had been Xing Xiuyuan himself who ordered Li Mazi to be tortured into speaking.
But now, he put on a furious act and, without hesitation, slashed off the torturer’s head with a single strike.
Blood sprayed into the air as the headless body collapsed.
Everyone in the prison felt their hearts skip a beat, unable to understand what was happening.
Xing Xiuyuan personally untied Li Mazi and immediately put on a smile. “Brother, you’ve been frightened! It was all a misunderstanding. This is a high-grade healing pill, take it!”
Li Mazi’s mind was completely blank.
What was going on?
Hall Master Xing’s attitude… was far too exaggerated!
Was his gang leader really that powerful?
Even a hall master of the Abyssal Burial Palace had to give him face?
Dazed, Li Mazi accepted the pill, not even knowing how he walked out of North Desolation Hall…
When Xing Xiuyuan returned to the main hall, he immediately knelt and reported everything to Ye Wudu.
Ye Wudu asked calmly, “Li Mazi didn’t betray this Young Master?”
Xing Xiuyuan shook his head. “He endured the entire night and did not betray Young Master.”
Ye Wudu nodded slightly. That Li Mazi was indeed tough.
He slowly stood up, walked to Xing Xiuyuan, and looked down at him. “Do not report my presence here to the headquarters. I do not wish to expose myself for now.”
“This… but…”
Xing Xiuyuan hesitated, unsure how to respond.
After a moment of thought, he said, “Young Master, the Palace Master has been searching for you for nine years. If this subordinate conceals such information, it may anger the Palace Master.”
Ye Wudu chuckled softly and crouched down. “Hall Master Xing, think carefully. If you dare betray this Young Master, your earlier actions were already a capital offense. Do you think I would tell my sister?”
Xing Xiuyuan shuddered. The one he truly feared was not Ye Wudu… but Ye Yaoyue.
Everyone knew she was a notorious madwoman.
Caught between two impossible choices, Xing Xiuyuan felt trapped.
Ye Wudu patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. As long as you follow my instructions, nothing will happen to you. As long as I return alive, my sister won’t care about such a trivial matter.”
Hearing this assurance, Xing Xiuyuan finally nodded. “Everything will be done according to Young Master’s orders!”
Xing Xiuyuan couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask, Young Master… why remain in this small North Desolation City?”
Ye Wudu waved his hand dismissively. “You’ll know in a year. For now, carry on as usual and pretend you know nothing.”
Xing Xiuyuan added, “The Liu family intends harm toward Young Master. Shall this subordinate eliminate them?”
Ye Wudu waved again. “I’ll handle it myself. If I need anything, I’ll speak. If I don’t, just do your duty.”
Xing Xiuyuan was puzzled.
Wasn’t it said the Young Master had no cultivation?
Then how could he deal with Liu Yu?
It seemed the rumors were completely unreliable… or perhaps the Young Master had deliberately ruined his own reputation to conceal his strength.
After all, if he truly had no cultivation, how could he have killed the two retainers of the Liu family…
At home, Murong Wanyin paced anxiously, waiting at the door.
She hadn’t set up her stall today. Her mind was filled with fear that Ye Wudu might not return.
Only now did she realize… his place in her heart was far greater than she had thought.
She felt she could no longer wait.
If Ye Wudu didn’t return within another quarter of an hour, she would take up her sword and head to North Desolation City.
Even if she lacked the strength to save him, she would still risk her life and try.
At this moment, Murong Wanyin had already resolved herself to die if necessary.
Then, not long after…
A familiar figure appeared in the distance.
Before, when she saw him every day, there had been nothing special about it.
His presence had been like air… like breathing… something that was simply always there.
But just now, she had thought she would never see him again.
Now that he stood before her, every cell in her body seemed to surge with joy.
Murong Wanyin ran toward him and crashed straight into his arms.
Her hands wrapped tightly around his waist, fingers interlocked behind his back, gripping so hard her knuckles turned white.
Her face buried in his chest, her breathing was rapid and burning hot. Her delicate body trembled slightly.
Ye Wudu froze for a moment, then tightened his arms, holding her firmly.
“What’s wrong? It’s only been a few hours.”
He gently stroked her back and placed a light kiss on her hair.
“I missed you.”
Three simple words, spoken softly… so soft they felt like a sigh.
Dusk settled in, the evening breeze gentle.
They held each other tightly, like a scene painted in stillness.
Ye Wudu hadn’t expected her reaction to be so intense.
But thinking about it, it made sense. She had believed he wouldn’t be able to resolve the situation… that he might never return.
Murong Wanyin asked softly, “Is it settled?”
Ye Wudu nodded slightly and smiled. “Rest easy. Xing Xiuyuan won’t trouble us again.”
“Mm.”
Murong Wanyin felt that Ye Wudu was truly incredible… he had actually resolved it.
It seemed she had underestimated him all along.
[Ding! Murong Wanyin’s favorability has increased by 3 points. Current favorability: 33…]