by Feng Yise
"My purpose of coming, is Younger Brother Yu still unclear? This Gu wish to request an audience with Master Ye and invite him to take a look at Eldest Miss's illness! Whatever terms there are, Master Ye can feel free to say."
As he was talking, Gu Hong dug out a storage ring and handed it to Yu Ming, saying with a fawning look. "This is a small token from Elder Brother. Younger Brother Yu, please accept! After the matter is done, Elder Brother will still have a little something! I know that Younger Brother is a favorite of Master Ye. As long as Younger Brother, you, make an exception, this matter, we can settle it through discussion, no?"
Gu Hong felt pain in his heart!
He spent an arm and a leg this time in order to patch his relationship up with Yu Ming.
In that storage ring, there were one thousand low-grade earth essence crystals!
And these one thousand low-grade earth essence crystals was already one-fifth of his savings.
One had to know that low-grade earth essence crystals and merit points could be exchanged one-for-one.
Which was also to say that Gu Hong gave Yu Ming a thousand merit points all at once!
This was absolutely a huge sum!
Yu Ming used divine sense to inspect the storage ring and also palpitated with excitement in his heart.
This old fellow was really hemorrhaging this time!
But Yu Ming made a difficult expression on his face and said, "This . . . Steward Gu, not that I'm not willing to help you, it's seriously that Master Ye is really very busy . . ."
Gu Hong gnashed his teeth until it made grinding sounds and actually fished out another storage ring, saying, "Younger Brother Yu, I naturally know that Master Ye is very busy. It's just that our family's Eldest Miss's illness, you're aware about it too. Saving a life is better than building a seven-storied pagoda. Old Gu, I, only have this bit of savings too!"
Gu Ming had a destitute look, secretly delighting Yu Ming inwardly.
He received the storage ring and had a look. Inside indeed had quite a few good stuff. The value was probably around 500 merit points or so too.
"Fine then. On account of Steward Gu having such sincerity, I'll go and have a word with Master Ye. As for whether or not he consents, I dare not guarantee!" Yu Ming said with difficulty.
"Doesn't matter, doesn't matter! I know that Younger Brother Yu is a favorite of Master. Master will definitely give you this face!" Gu Hong flattered Yu Ming vigorously.
Yu Ming was naturally enjoying it too. In the past, he behaved like a grandson in front of Gu Hong. Now, the winds of fortune changed. It was Gu Hong's turn to act like a grandson in front of him.
This sense of accomplishment was absolutely refreshing!
Yu Ming put away the two storage rings, turned around, and entered the manor.
The moment his figure vanished, Gu Hong's face darkened.
"Humph! Blind reckless fool! To actually dare climb on top of my head! Dare to take your Grandpa Gu's stuff, really tired of living! After the dust has settled this time, Grandpa Gu will not only make you spit out these things, I'll even let you disappear from Ancient Opulence City entirely!" Gu Hong gnashed his teeth in hatred.
. . . . . .
"Hahaha! Satisfying! Really too satisfying! Brother Ye, Elder Brother, I, have always tucked my tail between my legs and behaved obediently in this Ancient Opulence City. Whoever I meet, I would bow and scr.a.p.e. Today, benefiting from the association with Brother Ye, I can finally raise my head up high! Here, these are the things Gu Hong gave me to show 'filial piety.' This time, he hemorrhaged greatly!"
Once he entered the house, Yu Ming's entire person felt like he was floating.
But Ye Yuan waved his hand and said with a smile, "Those things are given to you by Gu Hong and also what he owes you. You just keep it for yourself. He wants to take my life. How can this bit of stuff let him clear the hurdle? What's at the back is the real show!"
Yu Ming was rather embarrassed as he said, "This . . . Elder Brother, I, still know my own limitations a little. Gu Hong giving me these were all on account of Brother Ye's face. How can I take it for myself?"
Ye Yuan said smilingly, "Let you take it, so just take it. What's with all the nonsense? If you treat me as a brother, then put it away properly for me!"
Hearing Ye Yuan say so, Yu Ming hurriedly said, "Alright, alright, alright, I'll keep it then! However . . . I've seen through this Gu Hong thoroughly this time. This guy is two-faced, really not any good thing. The last time, he even sent that Song Pan to kill you! This time, he has no choice but to come and lower his head to us. But I feel that he will definitely harbor resentment in his heart."
Ye Yuan said with a laugh, "Gu Hong is only an unimportant person. He's not worth my effort to go deal with him at all. If he stays quiet, he can still live. If he courts death himself, then I can't be blamed."
Chapter 722 - An Ear
Gu Hong entered Ye Yuan's manor rather fidgety.
Honestly speaking, he still had a bit of confidence in his heart towards Yu Ming. But facing Ye Yuan, he had no confidence at all.
Even though there was only a short confrontation once, Gu Hong's impression of Ye Yuan was very deep.
Because Ye Yuan said for Yu Ming to return the humiliation to him. Today, it really returned to him!
At that time, he thought that Ye Yuan was giving himself a way out. But only now did Gu Hong know that he really had that strength and confidence!
On that day, Ye Yuan did not argue from start to end, because he simply disdained to argue.
Compared to arguing, Ye Yuan was smacking faces with actions!
Entering the main hall, Ye Yuan sat on the seat of honor. By the side, Jun Tianyu and Liu Yiru were seated.
Although he had long heard about it, Gu Hong was still unbelievably shocked in his heart.
In the mere few days Ye Yuan ascended, he was actually already on equal footing with the Jun Tianyu who made people tremble with fear on hearing!
"This lowly one, Gu Hong, pays respect to Lord Jun, Master Ye!" In front of Jun Tianyu, Gu Hong lowered his posture very low.
Either way, coming here today, he was long prepared to be shameless already.
But this first sentence of his poked a hole in the basket already.
Only to see Jun Tianyu snort coldly and say, "Are the Gu Family's servants all so ignorant in etiquette? This is Younger Brother Ye's manor. You don't pay respect to him first, but you pay respect to me for? Even if it's not here, Younger Brother Ye is my wife's savior. You doing so, isn't it making me out to be faithless? En?"
This cold snort directly made Gu Hong's knees turn soft, kneeling down.
"Lord Jun, forgive my mistake! This lowly one . . . lowly one has no intention of offending you!" Gu Hong even had the heart to die.
Jun Tianyu's acc.u.mulated awe in Ancient Opulence City was immensely great. So the first thing Gu Hong thought of was to pay respect to Lord Jun.
Who knew that he poked the hornet's nest all of a sudden!
You're an exalted Heaven Enlightenment Realm powerhouse. How can you be ranked behind a Divine Traversing Realm boy?
"Humph! If this wasn't Younger Brother Ye's manor, you'd already be a dead man now! This is Younger Brother Ye's place, how to punish is naturally up to him, the owner, to decide!" Jun Tianyu said with a cold snort.
When Gu Hong heard, all the hair on his body stood on its ends.
This one in front of him never needed any reason to kill people before. As long as he felt that you deserved to die, you would really be dead!
This point, there were already countless people who used their lives to prove it before; not necessary to go into details.
"Master Ye, this lowly one deserves death! This lowly one deserves death! I beseech Master Ye to spare my life!"
Gu Hong kowtowed frantically, nearly knocking out a large hole in the ground. He did not dare to use essence energy to protect his body at all. Very soon, a large bruise was knocked out on his head.
Gu Hong was overjoyed when he heard and hurriedly said, "Many thanks for Master Ye's grace of not killing! Many thanks for Lord Jun's grace of not killing!"
But Jun Tianyu said coolly, "Death penalty may be spared, but punishment is hard to pardon!"
Finished talking, Jun Tianyu wielded his fingers as a sword. A streak of sword qi flew past Gu Hong's ear with a swoosh.
Gu Hong only felt coolness at his ear and did not even react to it.
If that finger earlier slanted a wee bit more, his head would explode like a watermelon.
But very soon, a piercing pain assaulted, striking the deepest parts of his heart!
"Argh! My ear!"
Gu Hong covered the ear with fresh blood flowing out, hurting until he rolled on the floor.
"Make any more fuss, even if I give Younger Brother Ye face and don't kill you here, it's impossible for you to return to the Gu Family alive either!"
Jun Tianyu's words seemed to have come from the underworld. Even if Gu Hong was hurting until he was about to faint, he immediately ceased the howling too.
Gu Hong covered his ear, in pain until he was trembling all over. But he did not dare to make even a sound. Sweat flowed down his forehead, pickling the wound by his ear, making it even more painful like pouring oil onto a fire.
Jun Tianyu was obviously not this sort of narrow-minded people. He was deliberately finding fault.
This Gu Hong was just an unimportant person to him. If he killed Gu Hong, then he killed. But if Ye Yuan thoroughly offended the Gu Family because of this, it would be terrible.
The Tao Family's destruction made these aristocratic families in the Ancient Opulence City be on guard too.
These few years, the three great families all concentrated on development. Their strength had a very large increase.
Although Jun Tianyu was not afraid, he had an agreement with City Lord back then, not to kill Heaven Enlightenment Realm powerhouses as he pleased again!
Unless he did not wish to stay on in the Ancient Opulence City anymore.
The face of the three great families, Jun Tianyu would not give any thought. But City Lord's face, Jun Tianyu still have to consider it.
The city lord was appointed by a holy land. Even if he, Jun Tianyu, was any stronger, he could not possibly be stronger than a holy land too.
Therefore, Jun Tianyu carrying out a slight punishment was solely getting a bit of interest for Ye Yuan.
Either way, he only made a move to claim an ear. The Gu Family would not dare to do anything.
Gu Hong s.u.c.k.e.d in cold breaths by the side as he said, "M-Master Ye's anger is vented as well. C-Can you take action . . . and save . . . Eldest Miss?"
Towards Gu Hong, Ye Yuan naturally did not have the slightest bit of pity.
He already had killing intent towards him. Not killing him is already taking into account the Gu Family's face.
Towards the killing intent which fleeted across Gu Hong's eyes, Ye Yuan chose to ignore.
With Jun Tianyu around, forget about Gu Hong, even the entire Gu Family did not dare to touch him either!
"Saving people is okay. But this time is different from taking on the mission. You know it; I already gave you a chance," Ye Yuan said indifferently.
When Gu Hong heard this sentence, a hint of regret flashed past in his heart too.
If he had relented on that day and let Ye Yuan go look at Eldest Miss's illness, he would definitely obtain Family Head's commendation now and would also not lose an ear because of this.
But his regret was replaced by hatred very quickly!
Even if he did not dare to do anything to Ye Yuan, the people around Ye Yuan, he could touch!
After this matter's hype passes, I, Gu Hong, will definitely let you know that I'm not to be provoked!
"It . . . It was all this lowly one's fault! Whatever conditions . . . Master Ye has . . . feel free to say!"
Even if he hated to the extreme in his heart, Gu Hong did not dare to have the least bit of dissatisfaction verbally. Instead, he still lowered his posture very low.
"I want the Gu Family's title deed for Ancient Opulence Street's Luxuriant Fragrance Hall!" Ye Yuan said coolly.
"What?! L-Luxuriant Fragrance Hall! Ouch!"
The moment Gu Hong became agitated, it aggravated his wounds again, hurting until his face contorted in agony.
"That's right!"
"M-Master Ye, this . . . this is also too . . . Can you . . . change the terms?"
Gu Hong wanted to kill people badly. Ye Yuan this was also demanding a too exorbitant price!
However, he had to endure! Otherwise, the one dead would be him!
"No negotiations. Either agree to my terms, or you guys find someone else better!" Ye Yuan did not give face in the slightest.
"This . . . lowly one cannot make the decision. Can you permit . . . this lowly one to go back and report to Family Head?" Gu Hong said.
Ye Yuan nodded and said, "Can. Give me a reply by tomorrow noon. Or else, there won't be any leeway to talk over."
How could Gu Hong still dare to stay? Enduring the intense pain on his ear, he scrambled back to the Gu Family.
After Gu Hong left, Jun Tianyu asked, "Younger Brother Ye, this condition of yours is out of my expectations! Could it be that Younger Brother Ye is planning on establishing a sect in this Ancient Opulence City?"
Chapter 723 - What's Not Proper?
"Heh, the Luxuriant Fragrance Hall! Can a measly little Divine Traversing Realm boy prop up the massive Luxuriant Fragrance Hall?" Gu Changshun said with a cold laugh.
"Family Head, this boy has no respect for our Gu Family at all by relying on Jun Tianyu's backing!" Gu Hong said with a look of righteous indignation.
Gu Changshun looked at Gu Hong with a smile that was not a smile, staring until he had a guilty conscience.
"Oh, Gu Hong, looks like these few years, I've been too indulgent towards you!" Gu Changshun said rather emotionally.
Gu Hong's heart thumped, kneeling onto the ground with a thud as he said with a wail, "Gu Hong dare not! It's really that . . . really that they bully others too far!"
"Heh heh, bully others too far? It was probably you going too far in bullying others beforehand, right? Honestly speaking, you being able to come back alive makes me very surprised. Looks like Jun Tianyu is still rather wary of City Lord," Gu Changshun said.
The more Gu Hong listened, the more it felt amiss. Could it be that those things he did behind Family Head's back, he knew all of it?
Once this thought popped up, Gu Hong sniveled even more as he said sobbingly, "Family Head, you have to stand up for Gu Hong! I went to invite Ye Yuan to take action, but he crippled my ear with any word! This . . . This is simply making light of you!"
Gu Hong did not notice Gu Changshun's expression gradually becoming cold.
"Gu Hong, this is the last chance that I'm giving you!"
Gu Hong trembled, his entire person instantly sobering up.
He knew that nothing could be hidden any more from Family Head's eyes!
Gu Hong was an astute man. He knew that everything of his was all given by Gu Changshun!
With this, he held nothing back, directly recounting all the things that happened these few days.
Of course, what he said definitely had some discrepancies from the actual situation, but there was no way of verifying them.
This sort of thing, Gu Hong had long attained perfection in it. Even Gu Changshun could not discern the slightest bit of inkling too.
Such as that day he went to remove the mission, he ran into Ye Yuan and Yu Ming. The story was naturally Ye Yuan's strength was measly but looked down on other people, looking even more like a swindler. Hence, that was why he did not let them enter.
This point coupled with the condition Ye Yuan raised made people feel that it was
the truth even more.
Indeed, after Gu Changshun finished listening, the coldness from before diminished a lot, and he said coolly, "Lucky you're honest. If you still dared to intentionally hide it, without the need for Jun Tianyu to take action, I'll send you on your way too!"
Gu Hong sweated profusely in his heart, feeling like he had toured one round around the gates of hell and back.
But with his understanding of Gu Changshun, he should have cleared the hurdle this time!
"Family Head, Gu Hong was muddle-headed for a moment, such that I led to a huge mistake. Family Head, please punish! It's just that even though that Ye Yuan is formidable, this subordinate don't believe that he's even stronger than Lord Shuming, that's why I would make a move against him!" Gu Hong resorted to sophistry.
Gu Changshun nodded and said, "Honestly speaking, I also find it very hard to believe that a Divine Traversing Realm boy can be even stronger than He Shuming. It's just that Qing-er's illness really can't afford to delay! If he wants the Luxuriant Fragrance Hall, give it to him then, as long as he can treat Qing-er's illness!"
. . . . . .
The second day morning, Jun Tianyu and Ye Yuan came to the Gu Family.
Gu Changshun personally welcomed them. By his side, tagging along was a sagely-looking elderly.
After both parties had small talk, Gu Changshun said, "Master Ye, I'll have to trouble you for my daughter's illness!"
"Taking people's money to avert disaster for them, this is naturally part of this Ye's duties," Ye Yuan said coolly.
He and the Gu Family would probably be very hard to become friends, so he was not polite either.
Except, that elderly said with a cold smile, "Heh, age isn't old, tone isn't small! A baby whose hair hasn't grown fully yet actually dares to proclaim to be a master. Truly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth!"
This old man was clearly the He Shuming from Gu Changshun's words.
Ye Yuan was treating Gu Changshun's daughter's illness today. Some words, he was inconvenient to say out. Getting this He Shuming over here was in order to say those words inconvenient to say.