Zhu Ping'an's Dumbfounded Look

Watching Ye Qingxian frantically clawing at his own crotch, the crowd was a bit dumbfounded—it really seemed like they had misjudged Zhu Ping'an.

If they had believed just moments ago that Zhu Ping'an had poisoned him, Ye Qingxian's current actions were practically proving that he had brought this on himself, with nothing to do with Zhu Ping'an.

First, something strange growing in his mouth, then immediately clawing at his own crotch—such behavior was far too suspicious. Even Yan Shubing couldn't help but take two steps back, eyeing Ye Qingxian with doubt.

Ye Qingxian noticed the shift in everyone's gazes. He wanted to stop, but the itch was unbearable.

When the athlete's foot had been on his face, he could scratch it directly. But now, with his pants in the way, it was like scratching an itch through a boot—completely ineffective, only making it itch more.

Just as Ye Qingxian was about to speak, Zhu Ping'an cut in first.

"Brother Ye, you don't need to say it. I understand, I understand! This is my fault too—I did scheme against you, I get it. Anyway, you've always had a grudge against me, so just pin it all on me."

"You!" Ye Qingxian's eyes were bloodshot, his breath like a bellows. He knew full well he had been played by Zhu Ping'an again.

In his fury, his blood surged, and Ye Qingxian felt the itch somewhere grow even worse.

"Qingxian Ge, don't be afraid. This can be cured—I'll stay with you." Yan Shubing offered him a look of concern but didn't dare get close.

That was the last straw. Ye Qingxian spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted again.

"Ah! Brother Ye, why put yourself through this? Bareback fun for a moment, disease for a funeral pyre." Zhu Ping'an shook his head with a look of pity.

The eight male martial artists of the Leng Family nodded in unison, deeply agreeing.

Martial artists, after all, had surging blood and naturally strong urges. But playing around without protection? That was just asking for trouble—it was only a matter of time before something hit.

When Ye Qingxian woke up, the first thing he saw was still Zhu Ping'an's big, grinning face.

"Brother Ye, you're awake?"

"Zhu Ping'an!" Ye Qingxian ground his teeth. "What exactly are you trying to do?!"

"Nothing at all. I just saw you pass out and kindly looked after you. Why are you so worked up?" Zhu Ping'an blinked innocently.

"Come with me!" Ye Qingxian strode quickly toward a broken stone pillar.

Zhu Ping'an raised an eyebrow. He wanted to see what Ye Qingxian was up to. To be safe, he gripped the Rosemary Incense Leng Tianyan had refined in his palm—one whiff and a person would be knocked out, a must-have for murder and robbery.

Behind the stone pillar, Ye Qingxian stood with his hands behind his back, cold and still, occasionally scratching his Kun.

"Brother Ye, what did you call me here for?" Zhu Ping'an blinked.

"Zhu Ping'an, there were too many people out there just now, so I'm kneeling to you here!"

With a thud, Ye Qingxian dropped straight to his knees, snot and tears streaming as he sobbed.

Zhu Ping'an: "..."

His face was a mask of blank confusion—this time, it wasn't an act. Zhu Ping'an was genuinely thrown off by Ye Qingxian's bizarre move.

"Zhu Ping'an, Ping'an Ge, Ping'an Dad, you're my real dad! Let me go! Stop targeting me, okay? I was wrong before—I ran my mouth, I was arrogant and blind. Please, spare me!"

Ye Qingxian grabbed Zhu Ping'an's leg, hot tears pouring from his eyes.

He was truly terrified.

Ever since he'd run into Zhu Ping'an, he hadn't gotten a single win—just one loss after another.

"Ah, Brother Ye, to be honest with you, it's not that I want to go after you. I'm forced into it too."

Zhu Ping'an sighed. If he could live a peaceful, happy life, he'd rather be a lazy fish. He was only eighteen, still a virgin—he just wanted to survive. What crime was that?

Skimming opportunities from Ye Qingxian, the original Second Male Lead, was the most efficient way he'd found to get stronger so far.

"Who's forcing you? Tell me, and I'll kill the son of a bitch!" Ye Qingxian quickly swore his loyalty.

"Really?" Zhu Ping'an gave a half-smile.

"Really! From now on, you're my dad. As long as you stop targeting me, I'll do anything you say! I'll even give you Yan Shubing." Ye Qingxian was rock-solid in his resolve, then scratched his crotch again.

Zhu Ping'an raised an eyebrow, sighing at the fickleness of fate.

The Second Male Lead was about to take the male lead as his underling. What now? Asking online, urgent!

"Don't worry, Brother Ye. Yan Shubing is still yours. I just enjoy being a simp—once I actually get the girl, it's no fun."

"Since you've said that, I won't target you anymore from now on. Let's work together and split any opportunities we find—Seventy-Thirty Split, how about it?"

Zhu Ping'an kindly helped Ye Qingxian up from his knees. He figured that instead of constantly chasing Ye Qingxian down, it was easier to just cooperate with him. There was probably no better tool than Ye Qingxian in this world.

"You take thirty, I take seventy?" Ye Qingxian tested the waters.

"Oh, I see. Three minutes to Pass the Seventh Day for Brother Ye, right? No problem."

The moment Zhu Ping'an finished speaking, Ye Qingxian's eyes flew wide in terror, and he waved his hands frantically.

"No, no, no! I'll take thirty, you take seventy!"

"Mm, that's more like it, Brother Ye. Here, eat this." Zhu Ping'an tossed a pill to Ye Qingxian.

"What is this?" Ye Qingxian's expression flickered. Could Zhu Ping'an be trying to control him with poison?

"It's the antidote. I planted over a dozen poisons on you just now. The Cauliflower on your tongue is just one of them—if you don't take the antidote soon, the others will erupt." Zhu Ping'an gave a shy smile.

Ye Qingxian: "..."

He suddenly felt that kneeling and begging for Zhu Ping'an's forgiveness had been the right call. Going against this guy was a death sentence.

A man's knees hold gold, and now is the time to cash in.

After taking the antidote Zhu Ping'an had given him, the cauliflower on Ye Qingxian's tongue indeed began to recede, but the maddening itch between his legs showed no sign of easing.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you—Athlete's Foot has no antidote. You'll have to buy Athlete's Foot Spray yourself and spray it on." Seeming to catch Ye Qingxian's confusion, Zhu Ping'an explained proactively.

Ye Qingxian: "..."

In the silence, he couldn't help scratching a few more times.

"Brother Ye, then let's celebrate turning our conflict into jade and silk." Zhu Ping'an wore a bright smile on his face.

"Um... Dad Ping'an, could I ask you for one favor?" Ye Qingxian couldn't help but speak up.

"Go ahead."

"To outsiders, could you not reveal our relationship? Let's keep everything as it was?" Ye Qingxian inquired.

"Of course that's fine. I don't care about mere reputation anyway, as long as you cooperate well with me."

Zhu Ping'an shrugged indifferently. At the end of the day, he and Ye Qingxian didn't really have any deep, irreconcilable hatred. If Ye Qingxian was willing to diligently serve as his tool to help him survive his death tribulation, then truly turning conflict into harmony wasn't out of the question.

Of course, if Ye Qingxian was still harboring ill intentions, Zhu Ping'an wouldn't mind letting him have a good taste of it.

"Good!"

Seeing Zhu Ping'an agree, Ye Qingxian nodded excitedly. Then he restrained his smile, resumed his usual arrogant demeanor, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly walked out.

"Qingxian Ge, what did you two talk about?" Yan Shubing, seeing Ye Qingxian emerge, quickly pressed for an answer.

"Nothing much. I just taught Zhu Ping'an a lesson and made him recognize his place."