Bullying the Market

Only as his father spoke did Ye Kang learn the whole story.

Though the Ye Family was no great lineage, they had brewed wine for generations and had accumulated a modest fortune.

As for his eldest brother, Ye Ping, his brewing skills had surpassed his master, and his business had steadily improved as well.

But the more famous one became, the more trouble followed.

Once business flourished, it drew jealousy.

The neighboring Li Family Wine Shop believed Ye Ping had stolen their business, so they sent a gang of thugs to cause trouble at the Ye Family shop every day.

When Ye Ping tried to reason with them, he was beaten up by the thugs instead.

By this point, Ye Long's face was filled with fury.

"Not only did those fellows beat him, they smashed up our shop too! They even spread the word that whoever dared buy our wine would be in for trouble. They're simply lawless!"

Ye Long clenched his fists, his heart choked with frustration.

Ye Kang, however, found it strange.

"Father, isn't Uncle Meng with the City Patrol Division? Didn't you go report it to him?"

Ye Long shook his head helplessly.

"What use is Old Meng being on duty at the City Patrol Division? The ones who did the beating were those thugs, but the people giving the orders behind them were from the Li Family Wine Shop. They have connections at court and don't care a whit about your Uncle Meng."

"I understand."

So their own connections were not strong enough. The other side had clearly decided that the Ye Family had no backing and could only swallow this bitter loss in silence.

Just then, someone else arrived at the door.

"Old Ye, how is Ping'er?"

Ye Kang turned to look.

The Approacher was Madam Liu of Wuwei Gate, followed by two maids.

The Liu Family was a truly declining scholarly clan. Though no one in their household held office, their foundation remained. They guarded a large estate and had extensive connections.

Ye Long and Madam Ye immediately wiped away their tears and went to greet her.

"Madam Liu, Ping'er is all right. We are troubled that you came in person."

Madam Liu gave an Awkward Smile.

"Well... I know all about Ping'er's situation. You people too—knowing full well that the Li Family was trouble, you should have yielded to them long ago. And now look what has happened. How will you run this business in the future?"

Hearing This, Ye Kang strode forward.

"What do you mean by that, Madam Liu? When trouble comes knocking, are we supposed to hide from it?"

Ye Kang's retort twisted Madam Liu's mouth with anger.

"You're Ye Kang, right? We haven't seen each other for years, and you've lost all manners. Is that any way to speak to an elder? With such upbringing, no wonder Ye Ping suffered this calamity."

Madam Liu put her hands on her hips, her expression growing uglier and uglier.

Ye Kang did not waste words with her.

"May I ask why Madam Liu has come?"

Madam Liu rolled her eyes and casually pulled out a sheet of paper from her sleeve.

"This is the marriage contract between our Cui Cui and Ye Ping. I have decided to break off the engagement!"

"What!"

Ye Long and Madam Ye cried out at the same time.

It turned out Ye Ping had long been engaged to Cui Cui, the Liu Family's second daughter.

With the wedding date drawing near, the Liu Family had actually gone back on their word.

Madam Ye hurried over anxiously.

"My dear in-law, don't act on impulse. Everything was fine—why break off the engagement?"

Madam Liu snorted coldly.

"We've known each other for so many years, so I won't beat around the bush. Your Ping'er, whether in looks or ability, is unworthy of our Liu Family. I wanted to break off this engagement long ago. As it happens, the Li Family's Young Master came to propose the other day, and Cui Cui has taken a liking to him. Ye Ping will just have to suffer this grievance."

After speaking, Madam Liu put on airs and tidied her appearance.

Madam Ye's face turned pale. She opened her mouth bitterly, yet did not know what to say.

Ye Long, meanwhile, let out an enraged Loud Shout.

"How outrageous! Your family accepted two hundred taels of silver as betrothal gifts from me! How can you go back on your word?"

Hearing This, Madam Liu curled her lips disdainfully.

"Oh my, listen to you. Haven't your family borrowed the Liu Family's influence enough over the years? If we're being serious, that little silver would not even be enough to repay what you owe us. It's generous enough that I haven't asked you for more, and you still want your silver back? Dream on."

Madam Liu raised her chin and spoke arrogantly. Then, with a casual tear, she ripped up the marriage contract and tossed it aside.

"All right, I have said what I came to say. There will be no need for us to associate in the future. Let me leave you with one sentence: take care of yourselves."

With that, Madam Liu left with her maids.

Ye Long was so furious that smoke seemed to rise from all seven of his orifices. He still wanted to chase after her and curse her out.

Ye Kang grabbed his father's arm.

"Forget it, Father. There's nothing worth saying to people like that."

Ye Long sighed helplessly.

"The business is gone, and Ping'er's marriage is gone too. How is he supposed to go on living? It's all because I'm useless..."

Ye Kang patted his father's back.

"It isn't your fault. This is simply how the world is. You take good care of Eldest Brother. Leave the rest to me."

Madam Ye immediately came over and seized Ye Kang's hand.

"Kang'er, you absolutely must not act rashly! If it truly comes to it, we can return to your maternal grandfather's home in Jiangnan..."

"Don't worry, Mother. I know what I'm doing. You two should just take care not to worry yourselves sick."

Ye Kang comforted his father and mother for a while.

Then he returned to his room, changed out of his official uniform, and put on a fitted white martial outfit.

With no one around, a terrifying fury finally surfaced in his eyes.

Vajra Fury Intent even began circulating on its own under the influence of that rage, and the faint outline of Vajra Fury Burst appeared behind him.

Ye Kang had never expected it.

That merely returning home would bring him face-to-face with such a thing.

Doing business and fighting commercial battles was nothing out of the ordinary.

But they had actually resorted to such despicable means to bully the market and dominate the trade.

"Li Family, Li Family, you brought this upon yourselves."

Ye Kang did not want to endure it, nor was there any need for him to.

Night fell.

The moon shone bright and white.

While his father and mother were not paying attention, Ye Kang used Flying Swallow Ascending Cloud. With a few steps, he slipped through several streets and alleys like a ghost.

At the Ye Family Wine Shop.

Ye Long had already closed the shopfront, yet more than a dozen loafing thugs still lingered outside.

They bared their chests and bellies, their faces fierce enough that they seemed ready to curse even a passing dog.

It was precisely because of their actions that the neighborhood residents no longer dared come to the Ye Family Wine Shop to buy wine.

Naturally, Ye Kang would not be polite to such scum.

He covered his face with a black veil, concealed his aura, and stepped forth with Flying Swallow Ascending Cloud. In an instant, he had arrived directly above the group.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

A figure rode the moonlight down with a sweeping kick, sending four thugs flying into the wall in an instant.

"Who's there?!"

The thug leader had barely shouted before he could react.

A massive fist had already smashed into the bridge of his nose.

Crack!

The thug leader's entire face caved in, and half the bones in his face had shattered.

Ye Kang had already held back.

If he had struck with Full Power, a blow from a Super-class expert could likely have blasted the man's head directly into Blood Mist.

Ye Kang continued attacking. In less than three breaths' time,

all dozen-plus thugs had fallen to the ground.

Ye Kang had no intention of ending this with a single punch.

They had beaten up his eldest brother, so they had to pay the corresponding price.

He stepped forward, grabbed a Little Scoundrel by the arm, and gave it a gentle twist.

Crack! Crack!

The arm shattered in response.

Screams echoed throughout the entire street.

He continued onward, one after another. If he did not shatter their legs, he shattered their arms.

The thugs had long since been scared out of their wits and begged frantically for mercy.

"Great Hero, spare us! We were wrong!"

"Great Hero! I have an eighty-year-old mother at home! I can't lose my hands and feet!"

Hearing This, Ye Kang's lips curled disdainfully beneath his veil.

What does that have to do with me?

With one kick, he shattered the man's entire lower leg.

Seeing this, the remaining men immediately began shouting.

"Murder! Murder!"

"Great Hero! Don't hit me! Li Jingming was the one who ordered us to do it... We were only taking money to do a job!"

One thug reacted quickly and immediately exposed the Mastermind.

Ye Kang liked clever people like this, so he decided to spare him.

He only crushed three of the man's fingers. That was getting off cheap.