Cornered Zhou Huaiyi

Eighth Elder Yang had misjudged one thing.

It was not that his status was inferior to Yang Chen's. Rather, he should never have repeatedly stirred up trouble against Yang Chen at the critical juncture of the Hundred Clans Trial War.

But how could Eighth Elder Yang have understood that? Though he had yielded to Yang Jinhe's authority for the moment, the venom in his eyes had not faded much.

His gaze settled on Yang Chen.

Originally, he had targeted Yang Chen only because of Second Master Yang. But now, he truly hated Yang Chen to the marrow of his bones.

Hmph, I hope you really can make it into the top thirty and earn the qualification to enter Demon Beast Mountain. Otherwise, once we return to the Yang family, I'll make you regret it. Eighth Elder Yang thought darkly.

In the end, Yang Chen received the reward Yang Jinhe had granted in advance before rising to take his leave.

He had no desire to linger in such a smoky, foul place.

Yet just when he thought he could finally have some peace after returning home, he discovered that he had been terribly mistaken.

For there was a figure standing in his courtyard. The man wore a fawning smile, his posture bent in servility, his face brimming with flattery. On closer inspection, who else could it be but Zhou Huaiyi, the man who had once betrayed him?

"Zhou Huaiyi, why haven't you gotten the hell out yet?" Gu Mingyue stood in the courtyard, her face flushed red with anger.

She was truly disgusted by Zhou Huaiyi's shameless appearance.

Such an angry shout naturally caught Yang Chen's attention at once, and he turned to look. Zhou Huaiyi had somehow entered his courtyard and was eagerly competing to help Gu Mingyue with the miscellaneous chores around the yard. At that moment, Zhou Huaiyi was as nimble and efficient as could be.

Yang Chen was so angry that he laughed instead. He was in no hurry to speak; he wanted to see just what Zhou Huaiyi was trying to do.

Zhou Huaiyi busied himself "diligently" in Yang Chen's courtyard, tidying this side first and then the other. He had actually begun doing the work he used to do under Yang Chen. Even as he labored, he treated Gu Mingyue with great attentiveness, like a kindly elder.

While bustling about, Zhou Huaiyi soon spotted Yang Chen.

The moment he saw Yang Chen, Zhou Huaiyi froze. Then he hurriedly put on a fawning smile. "Young Master, Young Master, you're back? I'll have the courtyard cleaned up right away. I definitely won't spoil your mood for cultivation."

How could Yang Chen fail to understand Zhou Huaiyi's intentions? Seeing him fawn over him so eagerly, Yang Chen narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Zhou Huaiyi, when did I allow you into my home?"

"Young Master, I... aren't I your servant?" An awkward look flashed across Zhou Huaiyi's face, but he forced himself to speak.

Yang Chen sneered. "Zhou Huaiyi, I truly underestimated how thick your skin was. If I remember correctly, you should be Yang Heng's servant now, shouldn't you? In theory, you should be in Yang Heng's residence. Why have you come here?"

At those words, Zhou Huaiyi's expression changed slightly. But with skin as thick as his, he had naturally come prepared.

He hurriedly said, "Young Master, going to Yang Heng was purely a moment of muddleheadedness. After thinking it over again and again, I still feel that Young Master Yang Chen's side is where I, Zhou Huaiyi, belong most."

"So you've betrayed Yang Heng as well, and come to pledge yourself to me instead?" Yang Chen asked with interest, stroking his chin.

"Yes. That Yang Heng refuses to make progress, loafing about all day with nothing to do. I was blinded for a moment and actually let him deceive me. Young Master, you must believe me. If I hadn't been temporarily bewitched by him, how could I have committed such a foolish act that day?" Zhou Huaiyi gritted his teeth in hatred, as though he truly felt that Yang Heng was iron that had failed to become steel.

Yang Chen laughed.

He truly laughed.

"Zhou Huaiyi, if I remember correctly, when you pledged yourself to Yang Heng, you said the very same things about me. And you seemed to have said that since your name, Zhou Huaiyi, contained the words 'cherish righteousness,' you would be absolutely loyal and unwavering toward your master, didn't you?" Yang Chen's tone was icy.

Zhou Huaiyi's body stiffened, and he hurriedly tried to explain further.

But Yang Chen soon said expressionlessly, "Or do you take this place for your home? You come and go whenever you please? Zhou Huaiyi, it seems you still haven't understood. I said long ago that one more Zhou Huaiyi makes no difference to me, and one less makes no difference either. You should think carefully about what you possess that could possibly catch my eye."

Hearing this, Zhou Huaiyi was utterly terrified.

Afraid that Yang Chen would refuse to take him in, he dropped to his knees with a bang, completely disregarding his dignity.

Kneeling there, Zhou Huaiyi anxiously knocked his head against the ground again and again. "Young Master, Young Master, you absolutely cannot refuse to take me in! This time, after betraying Yang Heng, I have nothing left. I came only to return to your service. What I chose that day was a moment of muddleheadedness, a moment of muddleheadedness! If you won't take me in, then I truly will have nowhere left to go."

By now, his intestines had turned green with regret.

If he had known Yang Chen possessed such talent, how could he have chosen to betray him that day?

Even if he had stayed two more months—just two months—that would have been enough.

At the very least, once Yang Chen saw how loyal and devoted he was, would Yang Chen have withheld benefits from him?

As the saying went, when one person attained the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascended to heaven. Look at Gu Mingyue now, dressed so beautifully. They were both servants, yet he, Zhou Huaiyi, and Gu Mingyue were as far apart as heaven and earth!

It was precisely because he had seen all this that he chose to return to Yang Chen's side.

What status did Yang Heng still have in the Yang family now?

Yang Heng had failed to shine at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, so the resources he received were pitifully few. Moreover, he treated his servants with extreme harshness; trying to get even a few spirit stones from him as a reward was harder than climbing to heaven.

Yang Chen was different. Yang Chen had shone brilliantly at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony and would surely receive a great supply of resources and spirit stones. By then, given Yang Chen's character, even a small reward would be enough for him to squander freely.

He believed that he had done a decent job working under Yang Chen before. Besides, Yang Chen's status was different now—why would Yang Chen lower himself to argue with him?

But he was wrong.

Yang Chen said expressionlessly, "Zhou Huaiyi, do you know what I, Yang Chen, hate most in this life?"

"Betrayal!"

He still bore Hua Wanru's hatred in his heart and had not forgotten it.

When Yang Chen's martial cultivation reached great success, that would naturally be the day he took Hua Wanru's dog life! For now, he would merely let that woman live a few more days.

Without the slightest warmth in his voice, Yang Chen shouted coldly, "Zhou Huaiyi, I've made myself very clear. If you still don't get lost, you understand what awaits you."

Zhou Huaiyi stood frozen in place, his eyes filled with despair.

He knew that he had ultimately missed the moment when he should have shown his loyalty.

Everything was too late.

Now, he had lost Yang Chen and left Yang Heng as well. His reputation had long since stunk to high heaven. How could he possibly continue to survive in the Yang family?