Chapter Sixty-Four: Malice

Ye Yan had arrived in a rush, but left with an air of nonchalance, leaving behind the unpredictable Wang Ai.

“To be reprimanded by a junior like this, Wang Ai, oh Wang Ai, you really are getting more and more indecisive with age.” Watching Wang Ai being put in his place by Ye Yan, Lü Ci wore a cheerful, amused expression, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Wang Ai sighed helplessly. “Who could have foreseen that the young, unremarkable boy from back then would grow into what he is today?”

“If I’d known things would turn out like this, I would never have stood up for Wang Lin in the first place. All for a dead man—bringing such a formidable enemy upon the family, it was hardly worth it.”

“So what do you plan to do?” Lü Ci cast Wang Ai a sympathetic glance.

With a man like Ye Yan targeting him, Wang Ai probably hadn’t slept a sound night in ages, terrified that closing his eyes might mean never seeing another sunrise.

Yet Lü Ci rather admired Ye Yan’s approach: grievances were laid bare, nothing hidden—he announced his intentions openly. “I’m coming for you, but when, I won’t say… so you’ll just have to live in suspense.” Sometimes, compared to schemes and conspiracies, playing one’s cards openly can be even harder to defend against.

“What can I do… I’ll just have to wait and see.” Wang Ai gripped his cane, his whole being seeming even older and wearier than before.

He truly had no solution for the threat Ye Yan posed. The only bit of good news was that Ye Yan still had some apprehension towards the Company; amid the cascade of bad news, that was the sole bright spot.

Just as Wang Ai was lost in melancholy, Lu Jin—who had been a quiet observer all along—suddenly spoke up.

“Old Wang, your grandson signed up for the Luo Tian Grand Tournament this time, didn’t he?”

As a reviewing leader for the organizing committee, all participant lists passed through Lu Jin’s hands; he had a fair idea of who was competing and who wasn’t. For instance, Wang Ai’s grandson, Wang Bing, and Lü Ci’s great-grandson, Lü Gong, were both among the contestants—that much he knew.

“He did!” Wang Ai replied irritably, glancing at Lu Jin, unsure why he brought it up. But Lu Jin’s next words made Wang Ai’s face change dramatically.

“What a coincidence. Ye Yan is competing as well. Let’s hope they don’t cross paths.”

...

Leaving the rear of the arena, Ye Yan walked on, his mind replaying the events that had just transpired, his thoughts wandering.

Beside him, Feng Shayen looked at him with concern. “Hey, Ye, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Just remembering some old trivialities—they’re all in the past.” Hearing Feng Shayen’s words, Ye Yan slowly looked up and offered her a faint smile.

“Liar.” Feng Shayen was unconvinced; seeing his unsettled expression, it was clearly not some trivial matter.

Moreover, the person he’d clashed with was Wang Ai, a figure on par with Ye Yan’s father—one whose mere presence could stir the entire circle of the extraordinary. Matters involving people of that level were, in her eyes, earth-shaking.

“You hold a grudge against the Wang family?”

She’d caught the gist of the earlier conversation—not the details, but it was obvious that Ye Yan and Wang Ai, and the Wang family, had an irreconcilable conflict, and a deep one at that.

“It’s been a few years.” Ye Yan nodded, not denying it.

“Tell me about it?”

Feng Shayen’s curiosity was piqued. Ye Yan rarely spoke of his past.

“You really want to hear?”

“Yes, yes.”

“It’s nothing special, just a rather cliché story.” Ye Yan thought for a moment. “When I first entered the world, I encountered a little green snake in North China—an odd creature, blessed by heaven, without a physical form and not particularly powerful.”

“My plan was to keep it for a while, and once the time was right, transform it into a flag demon to strengthen my demon banner.”

“I had raised the snake for half a year, but in the end, a man named Wang Lin took it from me. He used a technique somewhat similar to those of your Feng family and, right in front of me, devoured the snake I’d nurtured.”

“The flag demon I’d intended was gone, so naturally I was furious. I dealt with Wang Lin swiftly, not realizing that, while he wasn’t strong himself, he had the Wang family behind him. And so the feud began.”

“After that, the Wang family issued several bounty orders for me. Wherever I went, I was hunted by many extraordinary individuals—I barely survived. In the end, Xu Si couldn’t bear to watch anymore and used the power of the Xu family to suppress the matter, just barely…”

...

Ye Yan recounted the events in an almost indifferent tone. Feng Shayen, listening, drew a sharp breath.

She truly hadn’t expected that Ye Yan, always so gentle in appearance, had such a past.

It was almost unimaginable.

“So what are you going to do? Confront the Wang family for revenge?”

With hatred of this depth, reconciliation was out of the question. Ye Yan’s attitude made that clear.

“It’s not time yet,” Ye Yan replied, shaking his head calmly.

After all, Wang Ai was one of the Ten Elders, with vast influence. To bypass the Company and strike directly at the Wang family was unrealistic—unless Ye Yan was determined to fight to the death and willing to live as a fugitive.

That would be one way.

After hearing Ye Yan’s thoughts, Feng Shayen offered her own stance at the right moment:

“I can’t speak for the Feng family, but as for myself—no matter what you decide to do, I’ll always stand by your side.”

“Thank you.” Ye Yan reached out and gently ruffled Feng Shayen’s soft, white hair, his smile warm.

“But it’s just the Wang family—I can handle them alone. It’s only a matter of timing.”

Before Feng Shayen could protest, Ye Yan shifted the subject. “Alright, let’s not dwell on this. The Luo Tian Grand Tournament’s drawing should be starting soon—let’s get over there.”

“Okay.” Feng Shayen, flustered by Ye Yan’s sudden gesture, blushed and lowered her head, shy as a schoolgirl.

The two of them left together, chatting and laughing as they walked toward the arena.

Neither noticed that not far behind, a pair of eyes was fixed intently on their movements.

Shortly after they departed, a portly, middle-aged man emerged from the nearby thicket.

He stared at their retreating figures, his gaze growing darker. Only when their silhouettes vanished at the horizon did he grit his teeth and mutter,

“Ye Yan, you really are something.”