Zhao Yi’s words were undoubtedly the heaviest blow to Zhao Fu. He was the Crown Prince, the future Emperor. In terms of status, even as a prince, he had to bow respectfully and address him as Your Highness. However, they were uncle and nephew and had a good relationship, so they were more casual and avoided many formalities.
But now, the meaning behind Zhao Yi’s words was very obvious. There were no uncle or nephew here. There was only a hierarchy.
Zhao Fu could not understand why Zhao Yi would treat him like this for Ye Qiu. Other than anger, he had no choice but to lower his head.
“Your Highness.” He bowed respectfully and said. Zhao Fu’s expression completely darkened.
Wang Yi was even more shocked. He immediately understood that he had really offended someone he could not afford to offend. How could he provoke someone that even the Crown Prince treated so respectfully?
He immediately regretted it and cursed Zhao Fu in his heart. Damn it, this old thing is courting death. He actually dragged me into this. Even though he had yet to make a move, the army had already spread out. The meaning was already obvious. At this moment, even if he had a hundred mouths, he could not explain it clearly.
“Your Highness, I’m just here to go through the motions. What happened here has nothing to do with me.”
Wang Yi panicked and hurriedly explained. He did not want to lose his position as a general because of a small matter.
“Hmph…” Zhao Yi looked at him coldly and said to them, “Do you know who you offended today?”
Their hearts trembled and they quickly asked, “Who is it?”
Zhao Yi slowly walked over and said coldly, “This is Perfected Ye from the Violet Cloud Peak of the Heaven Mending Sect, known as the White-Robed Sword Immortal. How dare you? You even dare to provoke a Paragon. Do you think you’ve lived too long?”
As Zhao Yi revealed Ye Qiu’s identity, everyone was instantly shocked. Everyone had looks of disbelief.
“Hiss…”
“This, he’s actually the legendary White-Robed Sword Immortal, Perfected Ye?”
“F*ck, a Paragon is actually so young…”
“As expected, he’s as elegant as the rumors say.”
Who hadn’t heard of Ye Qiu? However, there were very few people who had really seen him. Now that Zhao Yi said it, everyone was dumbfounded.
Zhao Fu was even more terrified, his face pale. “No… How is that possible? He’s Ye Qiu?”
At this moment, his intestines were green with regret. He originally thought that he was just a young master of a big family. Who would have thought that he was actually a legendary Paragon?
Wang Yi’s face was pale. He suddenly had the urge to beat Zhao Fu to death.
F*ck, I’m only at the Hidden Life Five Realms. I shouldn’t have listened to your nonsense and tried to show off here. Damn it, you didn’t tell me that the other party was a Paragon.
Fuck…
In his eyes, weren’t the Hidden Life Five Realms experts like ants on the ground that could drown with a mouthful of water?
Like hell I believe you.
Wang Yi’s face turned pale. He hurriedly knelt in front of Zhao Yi and said, “Your Highness, save me… I’m innocent. Prince Gong asked me to come. I don’t know anything about this. I hope that Your Highness can save my life on account of my many years of service to Liyang, my noble career, and my years of guarding the borders. Wang Yi is extremely grateful.”
At this moment, even a fool would know what to do. That was a Paragon expert, an existence that could make his feces splash out with a slap. He no longer had any courage.
“Wang Yi, you…” Seeing that Wang Yi had actually sold him out so directly, Zhao Fu’s old face darkened and he was furious.
“What about me? I treat you as a close friend, but you actually want to harm me. This matter isn’t over.” Wang Yi was even more displeased with him. This idiot had caused trouble for himself and even dragged him into a pit. It would be good enough if he didn’t beat Zhao Fu up. No matter what, he was a great general who presided over a region. He only did him a favor because of his royal status and his fief.
At this moment, in a corner not far away, a few figures stood silently in the distance and watched.
The woman in red was very eye-catching. She was the guest from the Black-class private room.
“The White-Robed Sword Immortal is actually him?”
Honglian was stunned as she muttered. She seemed to have thought of something and was shocked. She did not expect such a talented person to appear in the Eastern Wastelands. He had actually reached the Paragon Realm at such a young age.
If he was given more time, wouldn’t he be able to become a King-Ranked and even have a chance of becoming a Martial Monarch Realm expert?
“Hiss…” Thinking of this, Honglian took a deep breath and was very shocked.
“Pavilion Master, should we go and make contact? It might be helpful for us to investigate the Strange Origin.” The attendant behind her suggested carefully.
Honglian waved her hand and said, “There’s no need. Now is not the time. I have a feeling that there will definitely be another chance in the future. Let’s go…”
With that, she turned around and left, disappearing at the end of the street.
At this moment, Zhao Yi was very angry. He looked coldly at Wang Yi, who was apologizing repeatedly. He could not bear it in his heart. Although Wang Yi had made a mistake today, he had guarded the border for so many years. Even if he did not contribute, he had worked hard. Moreover, he was the general. Once he was removed, there would be no one to make up for his current vacancy.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Yi said coldly, “General Wang, I hope you understand that all your rights were given to you by my father. You only have one master, and that is my father, not some prince. I can pretend that I didn’t see anything today. If there’s a next time, you know the consequences.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Yi’s face turned ashen, and his heart was dead silent. Zhao Yi’s words were like a warning, clearly telling him to pay attention to his identity. As a general, he casually commanded the army to support Zhao Fu without the order of the Emperor. Was his master the Emperor or Prince Gong?
“I understand.” Wang Yi lowered his head and said with a trembling voice. He felt panic, uneasiness, and gratitude from the bottom of his heart for Zhao Yi’s disregard. If he really wanted to argue, Wang Yi knew that he would not be able to escape death. Even if Ye Qiu didn’t kill him, he would be executed for conspiring with the rebels.
Zhao Yi looked at Wang Yi deeply and turned around to return to Ye Qiu’s side, wanting to plead for him. He only said, “Perfected One, look, Wang Yi has already sincerely changed his ways. Can you spare his life?”
With a pleading look, Zhao Yi frantically hinted at Zhao Wan’er. Sister! In the past, I helped you so much. Now, it’s your turn to repay me. You’re his precious disciple. You’re close to him, you have to help me plead for mercy. My words might not be too useful.
At this moment, Zhao Yi was also panicking.
One had to know that Ye Qiu was a Paragon. Why would he show any respect to a so-called crown prince with his strength? Not to mention respecting him, even if his father had come, Ye Qiu wouldn’t respect him as long as he was unhappy.
This was no joke.
He only dared to plead with Ye Qiu because of his relationship with Zhao Wan’er. Otherwise, he wouldn’t care about Wang Yi’s life.
Who cares?
Zhao Wan’er received Zhao Yi’s crazy hint and felt bitter and conflicted. She did not want to make things difficult for her master because of her. However, when she saw her brother asking for help, she couldn’t bear it. She tugged at Ye Qiu’s clothes and said carefully, “Master… Although General Wang Yi was rude just now, he didn’t attack. Why don’t… we let him off this time?”
Ye Qiu smiled faintly. “Sure.”
Wang Yi’s life and death was only a matter of a slap from him. He had never taken this to heart. Today’s farce was all caused by Zhao Fu. In the end, Wang Yi had been tricked.
However, Ye Qiu turned around and glanced at Zhao Wan’er. “Disciple, it’s a good thing to be kind by nature, but sometimes, kindness will harm you. We can forget about today’s matter! But I hope you understand a principle…”
Zhao Wan’er looked at Ye Qiu seriously. She was deeply moved by his teachings. “Master, tell me, what principle is it?”
Ye Qiu said slowly, “Being kind to the enemy is being cruel to yourself.”
Zhao Wan’er’s heart trembled as she understood something. On the path of cultivation, the hearts of people were sinister. Who would have thought that the enemy you let go today would not stab you in the future?
“Master, I understand.” Zhao Wan’er nodded solemnly and accepted the advice humbly.
Ye Qiu was finally satisfied. Actually, to him, Wang Yi and Zhao Fu were no threat at all. He just wanted to borrow them to teach the two little girls a lesson and let them understand this principle.
Girls were always naive and kind. It was inevitable that they could not bear to do it and chose to let the enemy off.
“Okay!” Ye Qiu slowly turned around and said indifferently, “For the sake of Wan’er, I can let bygones be bygones. But…”
After saying that, he looked at Zhao Fu, who was in the middle of the crowd. Ye Qiu revealed an evil smile. When he thought of how he had crazily given him money just now, he was also happy.
This old man was a good person. He hadn’t had enough just now, but now, he came knocking on his door again. He was simply a kind person.
Ye Qiu was still worried about how to find another excuse to extort him. He didn’t expect him to come knocking on his door. He slowly walked to Wang Yi’s side and looked at him trembling with his head lowered, not daring to speak. Ye Qiu said calmly, “You can get lost now.”
When Wang Yi heard this, he was overjoyed and heaved a sigh of relief. He said excitedly, “Thank you for your magnanimity. Please forgive me. I’ll get lost now, I’ll get lost now…”
With that, he waved his hand and brought the soldiers he had brought back. He didn’t dare to stay any longer. He was afraid that Ye Qiu would go back on his word and run away quickly. With a whoosh, he disappeared.
“What the…” Zhao Yi’s face darkened when he saw this. This guy actually ran so fast? “How embarrassing.”
As a Grand General, he did not even have this bit of steadiness. When he encountered some danger, he ran faster than a rabbit. Could such a person really be able to guard the border?
Zhao Yi could not help but suspect. But on second thought, it made sense. If he was facing a dynasty, Wang Yi had never been afraid of thousands of troops. However, in front of a Paragon expert, he was just an ant. How could he not be afraid? Even Cardinals would tremble in fear when facing a Paragon expert.
Ye Qiu slowly walked up to Zhao Fu and revealed a meaningful smile. Looking at his panic, uneasiness, and pale face, he smiled evilly.
“Old man, I heard that you’re very brave?”
When Zhao Fu heard this, he immediately lowered his head and shook his head crazily. “No… no, no, no… I… I… I.. Just a little.”
At this moment, Zhao Fu even wanted to die. Who would have thought that Ye Qiu was actually a Paragon expert? Initially, he thought that he could control Ye Qiu and get his family to send money over to make up for his losses. Who would have thought that with a sudden reversal, the clown would actually be him?
Ye Qiu frowned slightly and said, “Huh? Where’s your courage just now? Didn’t you want to take me down?”
“Per… Perfected One, I… I didn’t know your identity just now and accidentally offended you. I… I’m willing to compensate you. What kind of compensation do you want? As long as I can, I will definitely satisfy you. Please spare my life on account that this is my first offense.”
Zhao Fu wanted to cry, but he did not dare to cry out loud. He even wanted to die.
Hearing this, Ye Qiu was instantly amused. Yoho, pretty good? I was still worried about how to ask. Since you’re so sensible, I won’t stand on ceremony. This old man was a good person. Where can I find such a good old man?
“Alright…” After thinking about it carefully, Ye Qiu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Then, he said, “Just now, you seemed to have taken a lot of treasures, right?”
He hinted crazily.
Zhao Fu instantly understood something and immediately handed over all the treasures he had just bid for. “Perfected One, it’s all here. If you want it, feel free to take it. Take it as a gift from me.”
Zhao Fu felt his heart ache as he took out the storage jade. He had spent tens of billions on these treasures, but before he could warm it up, it slipped away again. He could only blame himself for not recognizing a formidable person. He didn’t guess Ye Qiu’s identity at first. Otherwise, how could such a thing have happened?
Zhao Fu was filled with regret. Who would have thought that the experts these days would be so low-key? He had already offended him so much earlier, but he did not flare up and endured it until now.
At one point, Zhao Fu thought that he had the ability to do it, that the other party did not have much strength and did not dare to provoke him. In the end, it wasn’t that he didn’t dare, but he was disdainful.
From the beginning, he had ignored him and treated him like a monkey. It was no wonder that Situ Changfeng was so fawning over him. It turns out that he was a Paragon expert. In front of such an expert, what was a mere Prince of Liyang?
Ye Qiu smiled and didn’t say anything. He silently took the jade pendant and checked it. Almost half of the items that he had given to Situ Changfeng for auction were inside.
Ye Qiu himself was surprised. After going around and earning a lot of money, could the treasures return to his hands? There was actually such a good thing in the world? Otherwise, why would this old man be called a kind person?
The more Ye Qiu looked at it, the more he liked it. After receiving the jade pendant from him respectfully, Ye Qiu said calmly, “Yes, on account that you’re my disciple’s uncle and you’re sincerely repentant, I’ll spare your life for now.”
Hearing this, Zhao Fu immediately heaved a sigh of relief. The clothes on his back were already drenched. In all his years of life, he had never been like today, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy. He only hated herself for not recognizing him.
Looking at Zhao Wan’er beside Ye Qiu, Zhao Fu felt even more bitter. F*ck, this lass has been standing beside me all this while. Why can’t I recognize her? If I had recognized her from the beginning, would today’s matter have happened?
Zhao Fu wanted to cry in his heart. He had already lost his riches. It wasn’t easy for him to get a few treasures, but now, he had to give them away. He only hated that Zhao Wan’er was wearing a mask earlier and he automatically ignored her. Otherwise, such a thing wouldn’t have happened.
He had already learned that Zhao Wan’er had already acknowledged Ye Qiu as her master. This matter spread like wildfire in Liyang. When the Prince of the Oceanic got to Liyang for the marriage alliance, he had no choice but to choose another princess because of Ye Qiu.
As a prince, how could Zhao Fu not know about this?
No one could blame anyone for what happened today. He could only blame himself for being careless.
Gently knocking on Zhao Fu’s head, Ye Qiu said with a faint smile, “Let me tell you a secret…”
“Perfected One, please say…”
“These treasures that you bid for are actually all mine. Thank you for giving me so much money…”
After saying that, Ye Qiu laughed loudly and turned to leave.
“Pfft…” As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Fu immediately spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted to the ground.
“Your Highness, Your Highness…” The attendant beside him hurriedly helped him up and asked about his well-being.
At this moment, he was so angry that he almost couldn’t catch his breath. He kicked his legs and left.
Zhao Fu wailed in his heart. His eyes were empty, as if they had lost their light. His lifetime of hard work had all been wasted.
Previously, Ye Qiu had deliberately raised the price with him not because he wanted to buy these treasures. This was because these treasures were originally his. He wanted to anger him and raise the prices of his treasures. In the end, he even foolishly gave him money. He even felt quite happy and felt that he had profited.
Profit your head. When Zhao Fu came back to his senses, his heart had already turned cold. The only fortunate thing was that he was able to exchange these treasures for his life. This might be the only thing that comforted him.
After returning to his two disciples, Ye Qiu said to Zhao Yi, “You… are not bad. Perhaps, the Liyang Dynasty can completely rise in your generation.”
Zhao Yi’s eyes lit up when he received Ye Qiu’s praise. He hurriedly bowed and thanked him. “Thank you for your praise, Perfected One.”
“Alright…” Ye Qiu didn’t continue to respond. Instead, he looked at Situ Changfeng and said playfully, “Shopkeeper Situ, thank you for what happened today. If it weren’t for you, we would have probably been killed.”
“Perfected One, you’re making fun of me again.” Situ Changfeng smiled bitterly. How could he not hear Ye Qiu’s joke? He didn’t mind and continued, “Perfected One, I’ll send the money for this auction to Violet Cloud Peak after I buy the herbs. What do you think?”
“Yes, sure…” Ye Qiu nodded and said to his two disciples, “Let’s go to the Immortal Mountain…”