Chapter 116: The Four Lists of Heaven, Earth, Mystery, and Yellow!

Shen Ying’s large eyes suddenly brightened, her face full of joy as she exclaimed, “Zhuang Muqing? You’re Zhuang Muqing!”

“Oh my goodness! I almost didn’t recognize you at first glance!”

“My name is Shen Ying. Could you please sign an autograph for me? By the way, you’re Ye Tianci’s senior sister, right? I can’t believe he has such a big celebrity as a senior sister!”

Shen Ying’s excitement made her words tumble out incoherently.

Before Zhuang Muqing, the pride on her face vanished completely; instead, she looked like a star-struck fangirl.

Zhuang Muqing smiled and signed an autograph for Shen Ying, then said meaningfully, “My junior brother has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He always responds better to kindness than to force, and he hates it when people act stubborn. If you want him to forgive you, it’s best not to throw tantrums.”

Shen Ying’s cheeks flushed, and she nodded obediently. Then she looked at Ye Tianci: “Ye Tianci, tonight Xiaoyi and I are going to the bar. Why don’t you come with us? I want to formally apologize to you.”

She was the quintessential second-generation rich girl—a carefree young lady with everything she needed, spending her days indulging in food, drink, fun, and shopping.

Ye Tianci refused without a second thought. “Sorry, I’m not free.”

Shen Ying had never invited a man out herself before. This was her first time inviting a guy, only to be mercilessly rejected!

She pouted, just about to complain, but then remembered Zhuang Muqing’s words. Her gaze cleared. “Alright, I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll apologize another time when there’s a chance.”

With that, she turned and left.

Watching her graceful figure disappear, Zhuang Muqing tugged at Ye Tianci’s ear and teased, “Junior brother, you’ve only been back a few days, and you’ve already attracted such a beautiful little temptress?”

“I heard your fiancée is Lin Qingqian, but who exactly is this Shen Ying? She obviously likes you a lot.”

Ye Tianci was speechless. “Senior sister, you’re wrong. I never flirted with her.”

Zhuang Muqing released his ear with a smile. “But Shen Ying is really pretty and has an outstanding temperament. She’s perfectly suited for you.”

“If you have the energy, you should just keep her.”

Ye Tianci was even more speechless. “Senior sister, what are you saying? She and I aren’t even in the same world. I have no feelings for her, and I definitely wouldn’t keep her.”

Zhuang Muqing rolled her eyes and snorted, “Don’t you know men? They’re all like that—never content with just what’s in their bowl, always eyeing what’s in the pot or the basin.”

Ye Tianci knew there was no point arguing. After all, he hadn’t been able to control himself back in the room just now.

Suddenly, he felt a twinge of guilt, as if he had wronged Lin Qingqian.

Although nothing substantial happened between him and Zhuang Muqing, they had lingered close to the line for a long time, almost crossing it.

Seeing Ye Tianci just scratching his head, Zhuang Muqing smiled and said, “Enough talk, I’m leaving now.”

---

“Senior sister, you’re leaving in such a hurry. Won’t you stay overnight in Shucheng?” Ye Tianci urged.

“Stay overnight? Fine. So, how about this: tonight, just the two of us alone in one room?” Zhuang Muqing said with a faint smile, her bright eyes fixed on Ye Tianci.

Ye Tianci panicked. He knew her nature—if she said it, she would do it. He definitely wouldn’t dare share a room with Zhuang Muqing.

“Better not.”

“I knew you didn’t have the guts! Hmph!” Seeing Ye Tianci’s embarrassed expression, Zhuang Muqing scolded him with a playful glance before drifting away.

Li Zhenhua approached from nearby and greeted Ye Tianci. “Mr. Ye, the owner of the Howling Mountain Villa is a friend of my Li family. He wishes to see you.”

Since Li Zhenhua had spoken, Ye Tianci naturally obliged and followed him to a separate courtyard.

Passing a rockery, they arrived at a red wooden door.

Li Zhenhua knocked and then pushed the door open.

Inside was a flower garden, with tables and chairs arranged around it. Two elderly men sat chatting leisurely.

One was Li Zhenhua’s father, the old master of the Li family.

The other was an elderly man with white hair, over sixty years old, but he was a one-eyed man, missing one eye.

“Mr. Ye has arrived,” the old master of the Li family greeted warmly.

“Old Li,” Ye Tianci responded with a smile.

“Old Jin, this is Mr. Ye,” the old master gestured toward the one-eyed elder.

The one-eyed man looked at Ye Tianci, slowly widening his aged eyes in surprise.

With a clatter, the small kettle he was holding fell to the ground.

It seemed to snap him out of his shock, and he exclaimed, “He looks so much like him! It’s uncanny!”

Ye Tianci’s expression tightened. “And you are?”

The one-eyed man immediately replied, “I am Jin Shengyuan.”

Li Zhenhua whispered beside him, “Mr. Ye, Old Jin’s son, Jin Zhengxuan, is the Northern God of Wealth of Shucheng! Old Jin himself is the owner of Howling Mountain Villa!”

“The Jin family’s ancestors were once imperial relatives but changed their surname after the founding of the nation.”

Ye Tianci was slightly startled. He hadn’t expected the owner of Howling Mountain Villa to be the father of Shucheng’s Northern God of Wealth.

“Greetings, Old Jin. I am Ye Tianci. May I ask what you meant by saying ‘so much like him’ just now?”

“Mr. Ye, you’re not a stranger here, so I’ll be straightforward. Your father, Ye Xiaoyao, lived in Shucheng for a time. My family and Old Li’s have long been indebted to your father’s kindness.”

“I have always remembered your father’s grace, so seeing you is like seeing him again,” Jin Shengyuan said slowly.

Again, it was an old friend of his father. Ye Tianci bowed slightly. “Ye Tianci pays respects to Old Jin.”

“Mr. Ye, you are too polite. I heard you and your mother were stranded in Shucheng back then. We didn’t know and couldn’t help you in time; it’s something we deeply regret.”

“That’s old history. No need to dwell on it,” Ye Tianci said.

“Mr. Ye, I heard the Qi family was destroyed by you?”

Ye Tianci’s lips curled. “You could say that. The Qi family is history now. From now on, the four great families of Shucheng will be only three.”

Jin Shengyuan and Old Li exchanged a glance, both seeing a trace of shock in the other’s eyes.

Ye Tianci’s methods seemed far more formidable than his father’s!

“By the way, Mr. Ye, I heard you’re quite skilled. Have you earned any official rank?”

“Official rank?” Ye Tianci was a little surprised.

Jin Shengyuan explained, “Martial arts flourish in Daxia now. Practitioners can earn ranks. The martial world has four lists: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. Except for the lowest Yellow list, those on the Mysterious list and above have official ranks.”

“The four lists—Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow—are somewhat familiar to me, but I never quite understood what they meant,” Ye Tianci asked curiously.

Jin Shengyuan continued, “The Yellow list is the lowest. Martial artists can pass tests at various martial alliances to get on it. Those on the Yellow list receive a stipend but must work for the alliance.”

“Above the Yellow list is the Mysterious list. It’s much harder to get on. Those on the Mysterious list get higher stipends and official titles, along with various benefits from the alliance. Since spots are limited, competition is fierce.”

“In all of Shucheng, only two or three masters have made the Mysterious list!”

“As for the Earth list, it is the highest and most prestigious in the hearts of all martial cultivators. Those on the Earth list receive the strongest honors and can be granted noble titles or military commands, their names forever recorded in history!”

Ye Tianci smiled. “I’ve heard of the Yellow and Mysterious lists. Mu Shihu and Song Fenglin from the Song family seem to be on the Mysterious list, but they’re nothing special.”

“Also, the claim that those on the Earth list are forever remembered in history—doesn’t that sound a bit exaggerated?”