Young Master Xiao (Part 2)

The sudden change stunned everyone, and Chen Changfeng pointed at Xu Yanwen in shock, "You... you..."

"You what, you!" Xu Yanwen transformed from a graceful young master into a ferocious beast. He grabbed Chen Changfeng by the collar and delivered a flurry of seventeen or eighteen slaps, backhand and forehand. He didn't stop there, kicking and shoving Chen Changfeng's two lackeys out of the shop before finally waving his hand to toss Chen Changfeng out as well.

While still in mid-air, Chen Changfeng shouted, "Senior Brother, spare me! That's not what I meant! I know who you are now..."

"Nonsense, it's too late to know now," Xu Yanwen said dismissively.

Turning his head to look at Ning Ye, he frowned, clearly disturbed by his ugliness: "What about you? Do you know who I am?"

Ning Ye said coldly, "Young Master Flute, Xu Yanwen, a disciple under Ancestor Moyin. You entered the sect last year and reached the peak of the Cang Xiang Realm in just a year and a half. You have mastered the Soul-Drunken Flute and are a brilliant talent of the Divine Palace, only half a step away from the Hualun Realm. Ning Ye greets Senior Brother Xu."

Xu Yanwen laughed heartily: "That's more like it. Although you are ugly, you know how to talk. Very good, I like you."

Outside, Chen Changfeng had already crawled back in, shouting in terror: "Greetings, Senior Brother Xu! I offended you, please forgive me, Senior Brother!"

He couldn't help but panic.

Ancestor Moyin was one of the Five Ancestors, ranked among the Twelve Heavenly Stars of the Divine Palace. As a powerhouse of the Immaculate Realm, his status was far higher than that of Master Wubei.

Xu Yanwen was gifted in music and had been famous since he was young, so he had entered the Black and White Divine Palace directly without even participating in the trial competition—he was a disciple whom Ancestor Moyin had personally sought out.

Because of this, Xu Yanwen could be considered the model of a young genius in the Black and White Divine Palace. As for Ning Ye, although he had performed well in the trial killing grounds and made rapid progress in the way of talismans, he had not yet reached the level of a genius.

At this moment, as Xu Yanwen made his move, a group of female cultivators appeared outside, each holding their hands to their chests with flushed faces, displaying the infatuated expressions of fans seeing a handsome man.

Seeing Chen Changfeng like this, Xu Yanwen didn't bother with him further and waved his hand: "Enough, enough, get lost."

Chen Changfeng felt as if he had been granted amnesty; he scrambled up and ran away, but as he left, he glanced back at Ning Ye with eyes full of endless malice.

Ning Ye's heart stirred, knowing that this kid would likely not let things rest and would come looking for trouble again.

"That kid probably won't let this go and will come looking for trouble with you."

Xu Yanwen said, his words perfectly echoing Ning Ye's own thoughts.

Ning Ye was slightly startled and looked at Xu Yanwen.

Seeing this, Xu Yanwen smiled: "What? Are you afraid?"

Ning Ye countered: "Do I look like I'm afraid?"

Xu Yanwen looked at him seriously, then shook his head: "You're so ugly, I can't tell."

"..." You really do know how to talk.

Ning Ye didn't want to deal with him, so he lowered his head and said: "I am an ugly person by nature, so I won't disturb you any further, Senior Brother."

With that, he walked toward the exit.

"He's quite an interesting fellow, it's just a pity he's a bit ugly." Xu Yanwen spun his jade flute with a flourish, a move so dashing it drew another round of cheers from outside.

To Ning Ye, Xu Yanwen was like a white crane soaring in the nine heavens, high and unreachable, while he was someone living in a dark hell. The two were destined to have no intersection.

However, fate is always so strange.

On the afternoon that Ning Ye returned to his small hut, Xu Yanwen arrived.

As soon as he entered the room, Xu Yanwen frowned: "This hut of yours is too simple. Zhang Liekuang doesn't treat you very well."

Ning Ye wasn't surprised that he said this; since he could find his way here, it meant he had already inquired about him.

But his lack of expression made Xu Yanwen somewhat dissatisfied: "Aren't you going to ask how I found out?"

Ning Ye said: "Naturally, you asked around. Since you found your way here, you must have asked the people at the shop about me. I just don't understand, what business do you have with me?"

Xu Yanwen laughed: "Meeting is fate, and since there is fate, we should meet more often."

Ning Ye said: "If Young Master Flute walks around the market once, you'll likely have hundreds or thousands of such 'fated' people."

"That depends on the fate. I don't feel that way about everyone."

"You are a white crane in the sky, while Ning Ye is merely an ant in the underworld. Between you and me, the difference is like clouds and mud; I'm afraid there is no fate to speak of."

"You can't say it like that."

Seeing that Ning Ye didn't offer him a seat, Xu Yanwen simply found a spot and sat down: "That Chen Changfeng has a grudge against you. His family has some background and support within the Divine Palace. If he wants to cause you trouble, you might not be able to hold your own. Most importantly, Zhang Liekuang doesn't seem to care much about you. The Seven Kill Blade isn't a very reliable backer; don't you plan on finding a few more?"

As he spoke, he tapped his leg with his jade flute.

Seriously?

What is wrong with you?

Ning Ye couldn't understand it.

Young Master Flute was a minor celebrity in the Black and White Divine Palace—he had a strong backer, great strength, and a handsome face. Why would he suddenly come over to chat and ask him to cling to his coattails?

Could it be that he...

Thinking of something, Ning Ye couldn't help but shiver.

Seeing his reaction, Xu Yanwen realized what he was thinking and hurriedly said: "Don't let your imagination run wild! I, Xu Yanwen, like girls—young, beautiful, fairy-like beauties. Besides, even if I did like men, I wouldn't like an ugly ghost like you."

Hearing this, Ning Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

Yes, with his current appearance, he probably wouldn't be welcomed by anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.

But if that was the case, why would Xu Yanwen go out of his way to seek him out?

Seeing the strange look in his eyes, Xu Yanwen grew a bit anxious: "I don't actually need you to do anything; I just need you to accompany me for a walk whenever I need it."

Ning Ye took a deep breath: "Ning Ye is busy with cultivation and has no time to wander around aimlessly."

"It won't be a waste of time; I can pay you in spirit stones," Xu Yanwen said hurriedly.

No matter how sharp Ning Ye's mind was, he couldn't figure out what kind of medicine Xu Yanwen was selling in his gourd, so he took a long breath and said: "If Young Master Xiao doesn't make things clear, Ning Ye will have no choice but to see you out."

Xu Yanwen also knew that continuing to be this vague was indeed inappropriate.

He had no choice but to say: "Actually, it's nothing much. You know that the Black and White Divine Palace is full of geniuses, but in my eyes, there is only one who can be mentioned in the same breath as me."

Only one person can be mentioned in the same breath as you? Isn't that a bit arrogant?

Not to mention the geniuses of the older generation, even among the younger generation, there are quite a few who are stronger than you, right?

However, since he said it like that, Ning Ye had no choice but to respond: "Senior Brother He Yuansheng, the son of the sect master?"

"Why bring him up?" Xu Yanwen almost jumped up.

"Then the disciple of the Hand of the Chess Player, the Heartbroken Lady Wen Xinyu?"

"Not her," Xu Yanwen shook his head.

"Feng Yuyan, the daughter of the Black Hand Envoy Feng Donglin?"

"No, no, not a woman," Xu Yanwen continued to deny.

"Then it must be the disciple of the Great Elder, the Ice Soul Yang Pole Hand Zhong Rihan."

"That's not it either," Xu Yanwen grew anxious and stood up abruptly: "It's not about cultivation, it's not about immortal arts, it's the face! It's the face!"

He pointed at his own face and shouted.

Seeing him like this, Ning Ye finally understood a little: "The Zither Scholar Yang Ziqiu?"

"That's right, it's him!" Xu Yanwen slapped his palm with his flute, his face full of indignation: "How dare he compete with me for the title of the most handsome man in the Black and White Divine Palace, and even compete with me for Fairy Niaohua? Is he even worthy?"

Ning Ye's train of thought was left somewhat paralyzed by him: "But what does this have to do with me?"

"It has everything to do with it," Xu Yanwen said loudly: "You must know that beauty requires contrast. As the saying goes, one doesn't fear not knowing the goods, but fears comparing the goods. With a peerlessly ugly man like you by my side, when others see us, they will be able to feel my handsome and dashing demeanor even more. This also perfectly aligns with the Yin-Yang Dao of our Black and White Divine Palace; Yin and Yang combined, beauty and ugliness paired, only then can my peerless grace of standing out from the crowd be revealed."

Hearing Xu Yanwen's words, Ning Ye was stunned.

So, you're looking for a stepping stone?