Chapter 67 0069: Annexing the Cao Family's Assets

Under the setting sun, Mo Yu and Chu Yun sat atop the thatched roof, smoking.

“Why did you pretend to be an ancestor of the Chu family instead of going yourself?” Mo Yu couldn’t understand, thinking Chu Yun was making things unnecessarily complicated. “If you just went as yourself, your fame would shake the continent. In the future, who in Watchtower City would dare say a word against you?”

Chu Yun chuckled bitterly. “I think this is better. With an ancestor of the Chu family appearing, anyone who targets the Chu or Ye families in the future will hesitate. I just don’t want to get caught up in the continent’s chaos. If I reveal this level of strength at my age, I’m not a genius—I’m a monster. Being too much of a monster isn’t always good. Only a reclusive family elder would keep others from being overly wary. If I showed myself, do you think I could remain untouched? The twelve lords may seem harmonious, but there’s conflict under the surface. Both inside and out, eyes are watching for a chance. I don’t want to be dragged into pointless struggles.”

“So you’d rather be bullied than expose yourself?” Mo Yu said with a hint of disdain. “If I hadn’t been kidnapped by Cui Yuanhao, would you have kept pretending to be a pushover? Hey, tell me, with things as they are, does this mean I can walk sideways around the academy now?”

Chu Yun laughed softly. “Of course. I told you, I’ve got your back from now on.”

“Thanks.” Mo Yu punched him lightly on the shoulder, then gazed at the sunset, full of emotion. “Watching you fight the four families today was unforgettable. I don’t think you realize how much I admire you now. You showed me that a person can become so powerful, regardless of age. You’ve inspired me. If I don’t work hard from now on, I’ll be embarrassed to call myself your best friend.”

Chu Yun asked curiously, “Didn’t you ever wonder why I suddenly became so powerful, like a different person?”

“Of course I did.” Mo Yu replied, “Ever since you defeated Duanmu Ci, I thought, ‘This isn’t the Chu Yun I know!’ But I knew it was you, because you can’t fake our friendship. No one could pretend that well.”

Then Mo Yu became more curious. “I think if you’d gone instead of pretending to be an ancestor, you would’ve rescued the beauty and won Ye Linglong’s heart. Bro, what were you thinking? You wasted your big move—you could’ve made that fake marriage real! If you had gone as yourself, I can’t imagine anyone, even those who came to flatten the Chu family’s mountain, would have succeeded!”

“That’s why things are so good now. The two of us can still sit on this roof, smoking, feeling the breeze, watching the sunset.” Chu Yun smiled, exhaling a puff of smoke, entirely at ease.

Mo Yu realized this was exactly the outcome Chu Yun wanted, which was why he concealed his identity.

He certainly had to save them, but if he went as himself, not only would he upset the balance of power on Hope Continent and get dragged into that chaos, he would also draw Ye Linglong’s gratitude—saving her entire family would create feelings, one way or another.

Chu Yun didn’t want that. Pretending to be an ancestor was the best solution.

He saved them all, and even if the Ye family felt grateful, it would be to the Chu family. If Chu Yun ever left, they would still take good care of his mother out of gratitude for saving their lives, and she would never be mistreated. As for Chu Yun himself, since he never appeared, Ye Linglong might even think less of him.

He did this deliberately—so that, with no ties or worldly matters, he could return resolutely for his revenge.

When night fell, Chu Yun returned to the Ye household.

Ye Zhenhuan greeted him warmly, patting his shoulder. “You’re back, just in time. Dinner’s ready.”

“Chu Yun’s back?” Ye’s mother, who was cooking in the kitchen, wiped her hands and smiled. “Come, sit down.”

“Brother-in-law, you’re back.” Ye Wuzhao poked his head out of the kitchen, grinning at Chu Yun.

On their faces, Chu Yun saw the joy of those who have survived disaster.

He noticed Ye Wuwei, his arm in a sling, and asked, “Are you feeling better?”

Ye Wuwei nodded. “Much better.”

“Let’s eat.” By now, Ye Linglong was already seated, chopsticks in hand, her demeanor less enthusiastic than the others.

Chu Yun could sense that her attitude toward him had grown much colder since a few days ago.

He didn’t mind, and took his seat to eat with the family.

That night, as Chu Yun returned to his room, he heard Ye Linglong in her parents’ room, discussing something with them.

He overheard Ye’s mother sighing, “Those scoundrels took all our money. In just half a day, they ran faster than anyone. I asked the city lord—they seem to have fled to other cities and sold several of our family’s businesses to competitors below market price. Now, aside from this house, all we have left is our private savings. They won’t even answer their phones.”

Ye Zhenhuan frowned. “They’ve had their eyes on those businesses for a long time. That money is gone. At least we survived, and that’s a blessing.”

His wife grew anxious. “But what will we do without money? Linglong needs to go to school and, at this crucial stage, needs more body-strengthening elixirs. Wuzhao and Wuwei both have to attend the martial academy—tuition costs hundreds of thousands a year. Are you going to support us all on your salary alone?”

After listening for a while outside the door, Chu Yun returned to his own room.

The next morning.

At breakfast, Chu Yun immediately noticed the food was simpler than before. Worried that the family’s hospitality might seem lacking, Ye’s mother explained, “I got up late today, and there wasn’t much at the market. The housekeeper used to do the shopping, so breakfast is a bit plain.”

Chu Yun smiled and shook his head. “It’s still better than what I had in the slums.”

He sat down and ate contentedly.

Just then, the doorbell rang in the courtyard.

Ye Wuzhao put down his chopsticks and went to answer it.

Soon he returned with a guest: one of the city lord’s trusted aides, who entered with a lawyer and a stack of documents, greeting the Ye family and offering a respectful nod to Chu Yun.

He said to Chu Yun, “The three great families agreed to your ancestor’s request. No need to wait two days; last night, the Cao family was eradicated completely. I’m here to report on that.”

Chu Yun nodded.

The city lord’s aide signaled to the lawyer.

The lawyer laid out a series of documents on the table, and when Ye Zhenhuan and his wife saw them, their faces changed dramatically.

“What…”

These documents were certificates for the Cao family’s former assets.

“These are all the Cao family’s industries. Since they’re gone, it’s only right for someone more suitable to take over.” The city lord’s aide smiled, took a pen from his sleeve, and handed it to Chu Yun. “Mr. Chu, please sign.”

Chu Yun, still holding his chopsticks, didn’t even look up as he kept picking at his food. “I’ve already married into the family. I’m a Ye now. Dad, you sign—these belong to the Ye family. You’ve all suffered enough.”

The Ye family was stunned.

“Dad, they saved us. We can’t take this money,” Ye Linglong suddenly spoke up.

“Sign it,” Chu Yun knew the Ye family wouldn’t accept easily, so he invoked the authority of his ‘ancestor’ and smiled. “It’s my ancestor’s wish. Otherwise, I would have signed.”

Hearing it was the ancestor’s will, Ye Zhenhuan became serious.

His wife, worried about their poverty, nudged him.

“If that’s the elder’s intention, then I…” Ye Zhenhuan was a bit embarrassed.

“The elder’s kindness shouldn’t be refused,” the aide said, glancing at Ye Zhenhuan. “Ye family head, please sign.”

Ye Zhenhuan could only set aside his pride and sign the documents.

“These are the Cao family’s deposits. After deducting the lord’s taxes, there’s still 1.36 billion gold coins left. Please keep it safe.”

Ye Zhenhuan swallowed hard. The great families truly lived up to their reputation; the money taken by those traitors was only a few tens of millions, but he had never seen so much wealth in his life.

The two brothers beside him stared wide-eyed.

No wonder the strong devour the weak. Accumulating such wealth was all too easy.