Chapter 55 0057: Yi Tianxing’s Revenge

The benefit of crippling Longjiang’s ten fighters was that there was no need for training or to stay tense in the backyard the next day. So, at dawn, Chu Yun simply returned to the Ye family’s home for lunch.

Ye Wuzhao busied himself, quickly bringing out bowls, chopsticks, and a chair. “Brother-in-law, please sit here,” he said.

“Where’s Wuwei? That child was out carousing again last night, wasn’t he?” Mrs. Ye remarked, noticing her second son’s absence.

“No need to wait,” Ye Zhenhuan said. Since Chu Yun was rarely present, he didn’t want to delay and began the meal.

Ye Linglong descended the stairs in a long dress, intending to sit at Ye Wuwei’s place. However, her mother shot her a glare, signaling for her to take the empty seat next to Chu Yun instead.

Left with no choice, Ye Linglong sat beside Chu Yun. A faint fragrance wafted from her, but Chu Yun’s eyes remained fixed only on the dishes before him.

Seeing the two of them eating together, the Ye family members felt a surge of joy.

Mrs. Ye kept giving Ye Linglong meaningful looks, urging her to say something instead of just eating in silence. This awkwardness couldn’t continue forever, and she hoped her daughter could develop feelings for Chu Yun. Who wouldn’t want to hold on to such an exceptional son-in-law?

Ye Linglong glanced at Chu Yun out of the corner of her eye and casually asked, “I heard you exchanged with people from Longjiang Academy. How are you back so soon?”

Chu Yun replied, “Yesterday’s training ended last night, so I was able to come home.”

“How were their skills?” Ye Linglong inquired.

“Nothing special,” Chu Yun answered, “but their mouths are certainly formidable.”

Ye Linglong let out a light laugh. In the past, she would have scoffed at such words from Chu Yun, but now she didn’t.

Just then, a maid rushed in, exclaiming, “Something’s wrong, Master, Madam! Young Master Wuwei has been brought back, tied up!”

At that moment, loud, angry shouts erupted from the courtyard. “Ye Zhenhuan! Come out here and see your son one last time!”

The Ye family immediately put down their chopsticks and hurried outside.

There, they saw Ye Zhenhuan’s second son, Ye Wuwei, bound and clearly beaten, his face swollen, his clothes torn and disheveled. He was forced to his knees, held down by a broad, stern-looking middle-aged man in his forties, whose square features and fierce expression betrayed a violent temperament.

The Ye family’s expressions changed the instant they saw him—even the usually aloof Ye Linglong was taken aback.

Seeing the Ye family appear, the man confronted them with righteous indignation. “Your son must have nerves of steel to dare take liberties with my precious daughter!”

Ye Wuwei knelt, panic-stricken, looking to his parents. “I didn’t do it, Father, Mother, I swear I didn’t! We went out drinking last night, but I wasn’t drunk—I went to the hotel to sleep on my own. Who knew I’d wake up to find someone next to me? I swear nothing happened! Please, believe me!”

He turned to plead with the man restraining him. “Master Jin, you know my family’s situation. Even if I had ten times the courage, I’d never dare lay a finger on Miss Jin. I’m being framed!”

Ye Wuwei was on the verge of tears.

“I only believe what I saw,” Master Jin replied coldly. “My daughter didn’t come home all night. I feared she’d been taken advantage of and went looking for her at dawn. To think the culprit would be you, you little bastard!”

With that, he kicked Ye Wuwei, knocking him face-first into the dirt. The blow was so fierce that blood spurted from Ye Wuwei’s lips.

Ye Zhenhuan quickly helped his son up.

Blood trickled from the corners of Ye Wuwei’s mouth as he clung desperately to his father’s arm. “Father, I really didn’t do it! I don’t know how she ended up in my room, and nothing happened between us!”

He turned to Chu Yun for help. “Brother-in-law, sister, you have to believe me. I may fool around sometimes, but I’d never bring trouble on our family. You have to trust me!”

“Brother Jin, may I ask which of your daughters was wronged?” Ye Zhenhuan stepped forward and inquired.

“My youngest and most beloved,” Master Jin replied, pulling a sobbing girl of about fifteen or sixteen from the crowd. She was red-faced and couldn’t bear to look at anyone.

“My daughter is about to be engaged to the Cao family. Now that this has happened, how are we supposed to explain it to them?”

At the mention of the Cao family, the Ye family’s faces turned ashen.

Ye Zhenhuan slapped Ye Wuwei hard across the face, then turned to Master Jin, bowing deeply. “I failed to teach my son well. Please accept my apology, Brother Jin.”

He turned to Miss Jin. “Miss Jin, I know Wuwei well. He’s not bold enough to harm you. There must be some misunderstanding here. Of course, what’s done is done. The Ye family is willing to offer compensation, if that is acceptable.”

“Compensation?” Master Jin barked. “Whatever the Ye family has, the Jin family has as well!”

He raised an eyebrow and jabbed a finger at Ye Wuwei. “All I want is this boy’s life. Will you hand him over or not?”

He was utterly domineering.

“I could have crippled him this morning, but I brought him here instead so you could see him one last time. Even if I spare him, Young Master Cao won’t! You have two choices: surrender him to us, or stand against both our families on his behalf.”

The Ye elders trembled. This was a hand they could not play.

The Jin family was a second-tier power in Watchtower City; the Cao family was one of the city’s top ten noble houses.

“No!” Ye Wuwei pleaded with Master Jin, still kneeling. “Master Jin, I swear I never touched Miss Jin, not even a hair! I don’t know what happened—I’m being framed! Please believe me, I’ll even kowtow to you!”

He knew the Ye family could not afford to offend the Jin family, let alone the Cao family.

At that moment, Young Master Cao pushed open the door and strode in with a gang of flunkies.

“Where is my fiancée, Jin Yun?”

At the sound of his voice, Miss Jin’s face went pale. Young Master Cao looked at her, eyes red, and asked, word by word, “Is what happened last night true?”

She couldn’t meet his gaze. “I don’t know why I woke up in that place. Last night, I remember being with you the whole time.”

“Actually, nothing happened between them last night...” Master Jin began anxiously.

Cao Zheng silenced him with a raised hand.

His face darkened, and he swept his gaze to Ye Wuwei, then kicked him savagely.

Ye Wuwei spat blood, battered and desperate. “Young Master Cao, I’m innocent! Please, spare me!”

“Spare you?” Cao Zheng looked down on him. “You put horns on me and expect mercy?”

Master Jin interjected, “Nothing actually happened, Young Master Cao...”

“Shut your mouth!” Cao Zheng snapped, glaring at the Jin family. “I’m breaking off the engagement! I want nothing more to do with this woman.”

The Jin family was stunned.

Jin Yun stared at Cao Zheng in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Cao Zheng replied coldly. “I, Cao Zheng, will not marry a woman like you.” He turned to Master Jin. “She’s no longer my concern.”

Jin Yun was reduced to sobs.

At that moment, a voice rang out from the crowd, dripping with sarcasm. “Ye Wuwei, you’ve got some nerve. Didn’t you know Miss Jin was Cao Zheng’s woman? You really don’t know the meaning of the word ‘death,’ do you?”

The speaker was none other than Yi Tianxing, who’d long been looking for a chance to take revenge on the Ye family and Chu Yun.