Central Province

The commotion outside the Ye Clan continued for a long, long time.

Another dark, heavy stroke had been added to the Ye Clan's shame.

But it wasn't over.

Soon, the uproar reached the Academy.

Inside the Academy, Ye Qiu and Lu Li hunted down Ye Clan disciples.

They killed none of them. They crippled every last one!

A fate worse than death!

Unfortunately, the few who had helped surround and kill Ye Qiu, then managed to escape, were not among them.

They had already left South Capital at the first opportunity.

Including Ye Ru!

She had run!

She knew Lu Li too well. If she stayed in South Capital, Lu Li would probably cut her down even if she hid at home!

The incident caused another huge uproar. The Grand Law Enforcer hurried to the scene with his men.

When he saw Ye Qiu crush a Ye Clan disciple's core beneath his foot, his face darkened!

He stormed forward, but Lu Li stepped in front of Ye Qiu first.

The Grand Law Enforcer took a deep breath. "I need a few words with him."

Lu Li glanced at Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu nodded.

The Grand Law Enforcer pulled Ye Qiu aside. "What's gotten into you? I told you to talk Lu Li out of it. Why are you helping her kill them?"

"I didn't kill anyone," Ye Qiu said. "I just crippled them all."

The Grand Law Enforcer: "..."

His expression turned grave. "You're breaking the law!"

"Then arrest me," Ye Qiu said.

The Grand Law Enforcer felt as if something were lodged in his throat. After a long moment of discomfort, he lowered his voice. "You took my money!"

"I gave it all to Lu Li," Ye Qiu said.

The Grand Law Enforcer: "..."

His chest heaved with anger. Then he turned to Lu Li. "That boy went to a brothel again last night. I saw him with my own eyes. He called for three women!"

Ye Qiu: "..."

With that, the Grand Law Enforcer left and immediately sent people to escort every Ye Clan disciple out.

He even persuaded the Ye Clan elders to leave for the time being!

Even so, Lu Li caught a few of them and crippled them on the spot.

No Ye Clan members were allowed in the Academy!

The entire Academy shook at the news. Then the Ye Clan flew into a rage!

A mighty Royal Family had been driven to this point. This was... going too far!

The Ye Clan's elders emerged!

Boom—

But just then, Nan Qingyue broke through the barrier and flew out on her sword, vast Sword Qi radiating from her.

She had spent the past few days in seclusion. Now she had broken through too!

The Ye Clan elders ran straight back.

Even Chen Qingyun moved house overnight!

At the Ye Clan.

The atmosphere in the great hall was stifling. Everyone in the Ye Clan looked as though they had eaten pounds of shit!

"Damn it! They're too arrogant, too brazen!" a hot-tempered elder roared, his voice ringing through the hall.

"And those allies of ours! When they needed the Ye Clan, they treated us with courtesy. Now that we're in trouble, they're scrambling over one another to keep their distance!"

"You were counting on those bastards? They're scared to death of Nan Qingyue! Besides, deep down, they'd love to see the Ye Clan fall!"

Now, hardly any of the younger generation dared go out. Even among the older generation, few dared leave.

Ye Qiu and Lu Li chased down the juniors, either killing them or crippling them for life.

As for the elders... Nan Qingyue was even more ruthless!

Yet the Academy did nothing. The Grand Law Enforcer paid lip service to his duties. He kept intervening, but somehow never managed to set things right... He was obviously letting them off!

Lu Li was only a disciple. So what if she was formidable? How formidable could she possibly be?

You were the man in charge of enforcing the Academy Laws, and you couldn't handle this?

What about your reputation?

Your dignity?

Your promises of fairness and justice?

Just put her down already!

Even Ye Jiangshan's personal intervention had accomplished nothing.

Yet Ye Clan elders were forbidden from taking action inside the Academy.

This was fucking bullying!

What a hypocrite!

"Clan Leader, should we ask the old master to come out of seclusion?" an elder asked Ye Jiangshan, who sat at the head of the hall.

Ye Jiangshan rubbed his aching forehead. "I went to see him. There's still no response from my father."

Ye Jiangshan's father was the Ye Clan's only grand elder and Ye Qiu's grandfather.

He was currently in seclusion, staking his life on a breakthrough!

If he succeeded, he would advance another step and gain fifty more years of life.

If he failed, his body would be ground to dust!

They did not dare disturb him lightly at a time like this. Ye Jiangshan had risked one visit, but after receiving no response, he dared not go again.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Everyone felt even worse.

Ye Jiangshan took a deep breath. "Pass down the order. No one is to leave the clan without permission!"

"Clan Leader, are we supposed to keep cowering here forever?" someone demanded, his face red with anger.

They had always been the ones bullying others. When had they ever had to swallow such humiliation?

"Bear with it for now," Ye Jiangshan said wearily.

The Ye Clan had no options. He could trade blows with Nan Qingyue, but keeping her there would be difficult!

The Central Province Grand Selection was only a few months away. Once its arrangements were settled, this would blow over.

Besides, Ye Rudí had been badly injured and was still recovering. He was the Ye Clan's hope.

For now, the Ye Clan could only play it safe!

On Green Moon Mountain, Ye Qiu was once again covered in ointment, bruised black and blue and looking ridiculous.

But it really did help his injuries. At least it stopped hurting so much once he put it on.

After finishing her work and eating, Nan Qingyue went back to her room to rest.

Under the night sky, Ye Qiu and Lu Li sat quietly at the edge of the mountain.

"What have you been through all these years?" Ye Qiu's voice carried on the wind to Lu Li.

At that moment, the young woman seemed mysterious to him.

She had disappeared at five years old. When she reappeared, she was Nan Qingyue's disciple and a core member of the Academy.

And those two old men from before...

Then there was the Grand Law Enforcer's attitude...

Even after things had gone this far, the Grand Law Enforcer still put up with her!

There was more to her than met the eye!

Lu Li thought for a moment, then looked at Ye Qiu. "Building an empire. One for you and me."

Ye Qiu turned his head slightly and looked at her. Is that your job?

Is that something you should be saying?

Let's set aside this "you and me" business. Could you at least treat me like a man first?

He took a deep breath. "Sometimes, you should try being a little more feminine."

Lu Li fell silent. Then she looked at Ye Qiu's face and forced a lovely smile. "Of course, darling."

Ye Qiu: "..."

He put a hand to his forehead. After a long while, he gazed into the distance, toward Central Province.

Central Province must be huge, right?

After a pause, he asked, "Are the requirements for going to Central Province strict?"

"There are some requirements," Lu Li said. "But you needn't worry. I'll take care of everything!"

Ye Qiu shook his head. "If this keeps up, I really will become a kept man!"

Five months until the Central Province Grand Selection. There would surely be cultivation requirements. In all of Southern State, perhaps only a few core members and people with special connections could go.

Ye Qiu had to make a push!

Seeing the look in his eyes, Lu Li said, "Don't push yourself too hard... I can afford to keep you."

Ye Qiu glanced at her, then stood. He truly did not want to say another word to Lu Li.

Not one!!!