Chapter 41 The Leader of the Three Dragons, Master Yuan!
“The Qi family reveres martial arts. Every young master in the Qi family has a tutor in the way of combat. I wonder who Qi Qingming’s master is.”
“I heard he’s a big name in the underworld.”
“Apparently, it’s Master Yuan, the head of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.”
“What? Master Yuan! Is that true?!”
“The leader of the Three Dragons, the pillar of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness—Master Yuan! My god, Qi Qingming is actually Master Yuan’s disciple!”
“Master Yuan reigns supreme as the foremost of the Three Dragons in Shu City. He’s notorious for his fiery temper. If his disciple has been crippled, he’ll certainly ruin the Liang patriarch and this Master Ye.”
...
The crowd erupted in astonishment.
Liang Xianrong heard all this, his expression suddenly changing, a trace of panic flashing in his eyes.
After a few moments of hesitation, Liang Xianrong clasped his hands toward Ye Tianci, his voice grave: “Master Ye, you and Miss Lin should leave this place at once.”
“Why?” Ye Tianci asked calmly.
Liang Xianrong looked embarrassed. “You’ve heard it yourself, Qi Qingming’s master is the leader of the Three Dragons in Shu City’s underworld, Yuan Zhonghuang.”
“Master Yuan isn’t just the foremost dragon; he’s the emperor of Shu City’s underworld, the head of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, commanding hundreds of brothers. Even Master Tang has to show him respect.”
“If I swallow my pride, pay some compensation, maybe I can survive, but you’re different.”
“You’re an outsider. Once Master Yuan arrives, you won’t be able to leave! Please, you and Miss Lin should go now.”
Liang Xianrong urged in a low voice.
It was clear he was growing anxious.
On the wheelchair, Qi Qingming gritted his teeth and shouted: “Ye, didn’t you say you wanted to destroy my family? If you have any guts, don’t run!”
“Liang Xianrong, if you dare let that cripple leave, your whole family will suffer!”
Liang Xianrong’s face was grim, his heart in turmoil.
Ye Tianci smiled and patted Liang Xianrong’s shoulder. “Boss Liang, with me here, what are you worried about?”
“You probably haven’t eaten either. Why don’t you join Qingqian and me for a meal?”
With that, Ye Tianci said to Feng Hai, “Steward Feng, have the guests step back, tidy up here, set a table, and bring out some food.”
Feng Hai glanced at Liang Xianrong.
Liang Xianrong was already flustered, but seeing Ye Tianci’s calm demeanor, his nerves settled.
“Master Ye is so composed; perhaps he has a trump card?” Liang Xianrong speculated inwardly, then waved for Feng Hai to proceed.
The guests retreated. A table was set in front of Ye Tianci, and the waiters served several signature dishes.
Ye Tianci pulled Lin Qingqian to sit down, picked up a tender piece of fish, and placed it on her plate.
“Qingqian, eat.”
Lin Qingqian’s delicate brows furrowed, nervous. “Things are like this, how can I even eat?”
“Tianci, I’ve heard about Master Yuan too. There aren’t many in Shu City who can afford to offend him. Maybe… we should just leave.”
Ye Tianci smiled gently and said, “With me here, you needn’t be afraid. It’ll be fine.”
---
Watching his calm, unruffled expression, Lin Qingqian’s heart remained tightly strung; she could not relax.
The delicacies before her made her stomach grumble, yet she had no appetite at all.
Liang Xianrong stood nearby. Forget joining Ye Tianci for a meal—even sitting down made him restless and uneasy.
After all, he was about to face the wrath of Shu City’s underworld emperor. If Ye Tianci had no backup, couldn’t hold off Master Yuan, disaster would truly befall him!
Yet Ye Tianci sat serenely in his chair, savoring the food on the table.
“Hmm! I must say, Boss Liang, your Purple Qi Pavilion’s dishes really are superb!” Ye Tianci even found time to praise Liang Xianrong.
“Master Yuan is about to arrive, and he’s still calmly dining in public? Not nervous at all?”
“Is he putting on an act, holding a trump card? Or is he just a fool?”
“He’s just pretending! I bet he knows he won’t live long, so he ordered all this food to have a last meal before dying.”
“Sounds plausible!”
...
The guests who had retreated murmured among themselves.
None wanted to leave; all waited for Master Yuan’s grand arrival, eager for the spectacle.
Qi Qingming, slumped in his wheelchair, gritted his teeth and said viciously, “Ye, eat up—fill yourself before you go!”
Ye Tianci picked up a piece of beef and smiled gently. “Young Master Qi, care to join us?”
Qi Qingming’s teeth ground audibly. “Once my master arrives, I hope you’re still so arrogant!”
He had just finished speaking when a commotion erupted outside. The crowd parted, and more than a dozen burly men marched in!
Each man was powerfully built and moved with the swiftness of trained fighters.
“Welcome, Master Yuan!”
“Welcome, Master Yuan!”
...
The burly men dropped to one knee, shouting in unison.
Their voices surged like waves, shaking everyone’s eardrums.
A man dressed in a bright red Tang suit strode into the venue.
As he approached, nearly everyone felt their breath catch, a powerful aura pressing them to lower their heads instinctively.
“Master Yuan is here!”
“No wonder he’s Master Yuan—the presence is overwhelming!”
“I nearly knelt down just now.”
“The Dragon of Zhenjiang is a worthy title—foremost of the Three Dragons, indeed!”
...
The guests dared not speak loudly, only whispered among themselves.
Qi Qingming, slumped in his wheelchair, immediately shouted, “Master! I’m over here!”
Master Yuan saw Qi Qingming, his limbs ruined and covered in blood, slumped in the wheelchair. His face instantly darkened, murderous intent blazing from his eyes!
---
The very air seemed to grow colder.
Guests nearby shivered, involuntarily stepping back.
“Who did this to you?” Master Yuan’s voice was icy, the killing intent unmistakable.
Qi Qingming’s limbs were shattered, unable to move. He bit his lip and pointed at Ye Tianci with endless hatred. “Master, it was this crippled Ye who hurt me!”
“Liang Xianrong, the patriarch of the Liang family, and their steward Feng Hai were his accomplices. Break their arms and legs! Avenge me!”
Master Yuan looked expressionlessly at Liang Xianrong, and asked coldly, “Liang Xianrong, is what my disciple says true?”
His gaze was sharp as a blade, his imposing presence making it hard for Liang Xianrong to breathe.
“Master Yuan, I…” Facing Shu City’s underworld emperor, Liang Xianrong felt his mouth go dry.
“Your disciple Qi Qingming’s limbs were broken by me; it had nothing to do with anyone else.”
“Not only did I cripple Qi Qingming, I intend to destroy his family as well.”
Ye Tianci’s calm voice sounded.
His words not only rescued Liang Xianrong, but also drew Master Yuan’s attention.
The guests burst into uproar!
No one expected that after Master Yuan’s arrival, Ye Tianci would still dare to speak so arrogantly.
Master Yuan turned to Ye Tianci, who sat calmly at the table, eating as if nothing had happened. He frowned slightly.
In Shu City, what ordinary person would not tremble with fear before him?
Even those with status and position felt some anxiety in his presence.
Yet this young man before him was utterly unruffled, eating unhurriedly before his very eyes.
“Could he have a powerful background?” Master Yuan wondered.
The thought flashed through his mind and was quickly dismissed.
“Young man, since you’ve admitted it yourself, I won’t say more. Kneel.”
Master Yuan’s voice was cold.
“Ye, did you hear? My master told you to kneel! Kneel and accept your fate!” Backed by his master, Qi Qingming became even more aggressive, shouting at Ye Tianci.
Ye Tianci set down his chopsticks, regarded Master Yuan thoughtfully, and spoke calmly: “Is your full name Yuan Zhonghuang?”
Master Yuan arched his brow. “You know me?”
“It seems so. Good.”
Ye Tianci’s lips curled into a faint smile. He tapped the table lightly and said with serene composure, “Yuan Zhonghuang, it’s you who should kneel now.”