Chapter Twenty: Taking Action

Ye Cheng spread his hands in a helpless gesture, making no attempt to deny it. The price of the spirit spear was indeed beyond what he could afford. Although he truly desired it, his financial predicament left him no choice but to let it go.

Hearing this, Manager Wei was momentarily taken aback, but quickly recovered and burst into laughter. “Young Master Cheng, you’re quite the wit. I suppose you left in a hurry and didn’t bring any silver with you. If you like this item, just take it. Consider it a small gift from your old friend Wei.”

“So this is the allure of strength—yet another person eager to offer gifts,” Ye Cheng mused inwardly, fully aware of Manager Wei’s intentions. He smiled calmly and said, “Since you are so generous, Brother Wei, it would be rude of me to refuse.”

Seeing that Ye Cheng did not decline, Manager Wei beamed and said, “It’s not very convenient to carry this spirit spear around. Let me also give you a storage pouch so you can store your belongings safely.”

“Ha, you’re certainly thorough, Manager Wei, but I feel a bit guilty making you spend so much on my behalf,” Ye Cheng replied.

A storage pouch was an essential item for anyone who spent long periods away from home, capable of holding all sorts of things thanks to its considerable space. Ye Cheng had originally planned to buy one himself, as it was within his means, but now that Manager Wei had already gifted him a spirit spear worth two thousand taels, he was reluctant to accept even more.

“A storage pouch only costs a few hundred taels. It’s hardly extravagant. As long as you don’t mind, that’s all that matters,” Manager Wei insisted. Without waiting for Ye Cheng’s reply, he turned to a nearby attendant and ordered, “Go fetch a three-cubic-meter storage pouch from the exhibition hall at the front desk.”

At this, Ye Cheng could only smile wryly and remain silent.

“Yes, sir!” The attendant dashed off and soon returned, holding a small pouch about the size of a palm, which he handed respectfully to Manager Wei.

Manager Wei received the pouch, walked over to the display case behind Ye Cheng where the spirit spear lay, and, with a deft flourish, caused the spear to dissolve into a streak of silver light and disappear into the pouch.

He then turned and handed the storage pouch to Ye Cheng. “Young Master Cheng, train hard. I look forward to seeing another top expert emerge from Luoyang Town before long.”

“Thank you, Manager Wei. If that day ever comes, I’ll be sure to remember your kindness. But it’s getting late—I should be on my way.” Ye Cheng stroked the pouch in his hand, smiling to himself; he hadn’t spent a single tael, yet had obtained everything he wanted.

He turned and descended the stairs, leaving the Treasures Pavilion behind.

Watching Ye Cheng’s departing figure, an attendant beside Manager Wei finally spoke up. “Manager, wasn’t that a rather heavy investment? The items you just gave away are quite valuable—it’ll be hard to explain this to the master.”

At these words, the gentlemanly smile vanished from Manager Wei’s face. He shot the attendant a cold glare, making him lower his head in fear before replying icily, “If you want to catch fish, you must cast your net. If you won’t even cast the net, how will the fish ever bite? I’ll take responsibility for this—no need for you to worry.”

Recalling the calm bearing of the young man just now, a slight smile tugged at Manager Wei’s lips. In a voice barely audible to himself, he murmured, “This boy is no ordinary fish in the pond. Who would have thought that after Ye Shan, the Ye family would produce another genius? To gain his goodwill for such a price is a worthy bargain.”

...

“That Manager Wei is generous indeed—he’s given you everything you needed, all at once. But boy, you now owe him a favor,” came the teasing voice of Old Mu in Ye Cheng’s mind as soon as he exited the Treasures Pavilion.

“A favor is a favor. Since he believes in my potential and is willing to support a pauper like me, it’s only fair,” Ye Cheng replied with an air of nonchalance.

“Heh, you do have potential, but don’t get too full of yourself. Remember, jade must be carved to become a gem. Potential is just that: potential—empty unless you put in the work. Without real effort, you’ll never walk the path of a true expert. No amount of talent will help you otherwise,” Old Mu admonished.

Ye Cheng nodded, reflecting that, in the end, everything depended on himself. Only by gaining true strength could he journey to that place and search for his father.

As Ye Cheng pondered, a commotion up ahead snapped him out of his thoughts. He stopped and looked toward the source of the noise.

There, a crowd had gathered. Driven by curiosity, Ye Cheng walked over. Through the throng, he saw a familiar figure standing among the onlookers—Ye Wei. His clothes bore several grayish-white shoe prints, and he looked rather disheveled, clearly having suffered some misfortune. Opposite him stood a noble youth with a roguish air, flanked by two martial attendants in livery.

“So what if I call you useless? Who in this town doesn’t know you were defeated in the coming-of-age trial by a nobody from your own family, Ye Cheng? Maybe you were once the most valued among the Ye clan’s younger generation, but those days are over. I can beat you now and your elders won’t even care,” the noble youth sneered, his words full of provocation.

“Luo Shaoan, don’t get cocky. If you’re a man, fight me one-on-one. Relying on your attendants—how is that honorable?” Ye Wei spat back, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

From their brief exchange, Ye Cheng realized that this arrogant youth was none other than the Luo family’s young master, Luo Shaoan—a reputed genius whose strength was said to rival Ye Wei’s. Judging by the attire of the martial attendants, they were clearly the Luo family’s fighters, assigned to protect Luo Shaoan—evidence of how highly the family valued him.

“If you feel so wronged, call for help yourself,” Luo Shaoan jeered, his tone mocking.

“You—!” Ye Wei was shaking with anger.

“Well, since you won’t, don’t blame me for what happens next,” Luo Shaoan said with a sinister grin, signaling to his two attendants.

At their young master’s command, the two martial attendants stepped forward, a powerful aura of blood energy emanating from them.

“They’re both at the peak of Blood Qi Minor Completion—no wonder Ye Wei can’t handle them,” Ye Cheng thought, narrowing his eyes as he assessed their strength.

Faced with the two martial attendants, Ye Wei’s expression grew grave. He said in a low voice, “Luo Shaoan, are you really not afraid of igniting a feud with my Ye clan by doing this?”

“I’ve already struck you—what’s a few more blows? Besides, you’re no longer the top talent of the Ye clan’s younger generation. Don’t flatter yourself. I doubt your elders will even bother to intervene,” Luo Shaoan replied disdainfully, signaling to his attendants. “Go ahead!”

With that order, the two attendants sprang into action, attacking Ye Wei from both sides with fierce momentum.

Before Ye Wei could react, a heavy blow landed, sending him flying through the air in a parabolic arc before crashing hard to the ground, leaving a mark where he struck.

Before he could recover, the two attendants closed in again, their legs sweeping mercilessly toward Ye Wei, showing no restraint.

As the kicks aimed at his head approached, Ye Wei’s face went white. Gritting his teeth, he was about to resist when a slender figure suddenly appeared, hands flashing out to firmly grasp the incoming legs.

Seeing this timely rescuer, a complex expression flickered across Ye Wei’s face. He licked his parched lips and murmured in a low voice,

“Ye Cheng...”