Zhou Huaiyi's Dead End

Eighth Elder miscalculated one thing.

It wasn't that his status was inferior to Yang Chen's, but rather that he shouldn't have provoked Yang Chen repeatedly at such a critical juncture of the Hundred Clans Trial War.

However, how could Eighth Elder understand? Although he was currently submitting to Yang Jinhe's authority, the venom in his eyes had not diminished much.

His gaze focused on Yang Chen.

Originally, he targeted Yang Chen only because of Second Master Yang, but now, he truly hated Yang Chen to the bone.

"Hmph, I hope you can really enter the top thirty and qualify to enter Demon Beast Mountain. Otherwise, when you return to the Yang Family, I'll make sure you pay," Eighth Elder thought to himself.

Finally, Yang Chen received the reward that Yang Jinhe had given him in advance, and then he got up to take his leave.

He didn't want to linger in such a toxic place.

However, just when he thought he could finally relax once he got home, he discovered how terribly wrong he was.

Because, in his family's courtyard, a figure stood there. This man had a face full of sycophancy and subservience, his expression filled with flattery. Upon closer inspection, wasn't it Zhou Huaiyi, who had betrayed him before?

"Zhou Huaiyi, why aren't you getting lost!" Gu Mingyue stood in the courtyard, her face flushed with anger.

She was truly disgusted by Zhou Huaiyi's obsequious demeanor.

This kind of angry shout naturally drew Yang Chen's attention. Yang Chen turned his head to look. He saw that Zhou Huaiyi had somehow appeared in his courtyard, fawningly trying to help Gu Mingyue with the chores, looking incredibly diligent.

This made Yang Chen laugh in exasperation. He wasn't in a hurry to speak; he wanted to see what Zhou Huaiyi was up to.

Zhou Huaiyi was "diligently" working in Yang Chen's courtyard, tidying up one area, then another. He had started doing the very tasks he used to do under Yang Chen. Even while working so hard, he acted solicitously towards Gu Mingyue, as if he were a kind elder.

While busy, Zhou Huaiyi quickly spotted Yang Chen.

Upon seeing Yang Chen, Zhou Huaiyi was startled for a moment, then quickly put on a fawning smile. "Young Master, Young Master, you're back? I'll tidy up the courtyard right away and won't disturb your cultivation."

How could Yang Chen not understand Zhou Huaiyi's intentions? Seeing Zhou Huaiyi act so solicitously towards him, he narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Zhou Huaiyi, when did I ever allow you to enter my home?"

"Young Master, I... aren't I your servant?" Zhou Huaiyi showed a flash of awkwardness, then said with a stiff upper lip.

Yang Chen scoffed, "Zhou Huaiyi, I truly underestimated your thick skin. If I recall correctly, you are currently Yang Heng's servant. In theory, you should be at Yang Heng's residence. How did you end up here?"

Hearing this, Zhou Huaiyi's expression changed slightly, but with his kind of face, he had naturally come prepared.

At this moment, he hurriedly said, "Young Master, going to Yang Heng's was purely a moment of confusion. After much thought, I still feel that Young Master Yang Chen's place is the most suitable for me, Zhou Huaiyi."

"So, you've betrayed Yang Heng again and defected to me?" Yang Chen asked with interest, stroking his chin.

"Yes, that scoundrel Yang Heng is complacent and idle, doing nothing all day. I was blind for a moment to be swayed by him. Young Master, you must believe me. If I hadn't been momentarily misled by him, how could I have done such a foolish thing that day?" Zhou Huaiyi gritted his teeth in anger, as if he truly held an attitude of disappointment in Yang Heng.

Yang Chen was amused.

He was genuinely amused.

"Zhou Huaiyi, if I remember correctly, you said the same thing to me when you defected to Yang Heng. And you also seemed to say that your name, Zhou Huaiyi, contains the characters 'Huai Yi,' meaning to be loyal to one's master, right?" Yang Chen's tone was cold.

Zhou Huaiyi stiffened. He quickly tried to explain something else.

But soon, Yang Chen said expressionlessly, "Or are you treating my place as your own home? You come and go as you please. Zhou Huaiyi, you don't seem to understand. I've said it before, my Yang Chen's household isn't any fuller with you, nor any emptier without you. You should think about what you have that I would find valuable."

Hearing this, Zhou Huaiyi was completely terrified.

He was afraid that Yang Chen would no longer take him in. Startled, he fell to his knees with a thud, completely disregarding his dignity.

Kneeling on the ground like this, Zhou Huaiyi desperately kowtowed. "Young Master, Young Master, please, you must take me back. I've betrayed Yang Heng this time and have nothing left. I only want to return to your service. My choice that day was a moment of confusion, a moment of confusion! If you don't take me in, I'll truly have nowhere to go."

He regretted it deeply now.

If he had known Yang Chen had such talent, why would he have chosen to betray Yang Chen that day?

Even if he had stayed for two more months, just two months, it would have been enough.

At least if Yang Chen saw his loyalty, wouldn't the benefits he received be less?

As the saying goes, when one person succeeds, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Look at Gu Mingyue, dressed so beautifully. They were both servants, yet Zhou Huaiyi and Gu Mingyue were worlds apart!

It was precisely seeing this that he chose to return to Yang Chen's side.

What status did Yang Heng have in the Yang Family now?

He didn't shine at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, and the resources Yang Heng received were very little. Moreover, Yang Heng treated his servants extremely harshly. It was as difficult as climbing to the heavens to get him to bestow even a few spiritual stones.

But Yang Chen was different. Yang Chen had shone at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony and would surely receive abundant resources and spiritual stones. At that time, given Yang Chen's character, even a small reward would be enough for him to squander.

He believed he had worked well under Yang Chen before, and with Yang Chen's current status, why would he hold a grudge against him?

However, he was mistaken.

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

"It's betrayal!"

He still remembered Hua Wanru's hatred.

When his martial arts cultivation reached great accomplishment, he would naturally go and take Hua Wanru's dog life! For now, he would just let that woman live a few more days.

Yang Chen's voice lowered without any warmth, "Zhou Huaiyi, I've made myself very clear. If you don't get lost, you understand the consequences."

Zhou Huaiyi stood frozen, his eyes filled with despair.

He knew that he had ultimately missed his chance, the time when he should have shown his loyalty.

It was all too late.

Now, without Yang Chen and having left Yang Heng, his reputation was already ruined. How could he possibly get by in the Yang Family?