The Bastard Old Man

"You've lost your mind?" Ye Yu frowned at Cangyun.

Cangyun finally snapped back to reality, nearly weeping as he looked at Ye Yu. "You little brat, I thought you were done for! You scared me half to death!"

"Huh?" Ye Yu frowned in confusion.

Cangyun then recounted how he had mistaken Ye Xuan for Ye Yu back in the imperial palace.

Ye Yu felt speechless. This old man was still the same as ever—his head full of alchemy, unable to tell one person from another.

Situ Guang, standing nearby, snorted coldly. "That Ye Qingwan really is something, treating trash like Ye Xuan as a treasure. Does she have any idea who's responsible for the Great Yan Dynasty's success today?"

Others might not know, but Situ Guang was well aware. As one of the Great Qin Dynasty's Guardians, he had an intimate understanding of the affairs of neighboring dynasties.

Ever since the Great Yan Emperor Ye Fan's father, Emperor Emeritus Ye Zhentian, had died, Ye Fan had become a hands-off ruler.

From then on, Ye Yu, the former Crown Prince of Great Yan, had taken over the reins of government. The policies he enacted had sparked a period of vigorous growth for Great Yan.

But after Ye Yu left for the Nine Nether Blood Spring, Ye Qingwan took over state affairs, and Great Yan's national power had clearly stagnated.

"It doesn't matter. Their problems are theirs to handle." Ye Yu waved a dismissive hand. In his past life, he had agonized over these matters, giving his all only to die at their hands.

"Heh, refining a Rank 7 Pill in just two hours—if they found out, they'd regret it so much their guts would turn green." Situ Guang chuckled.

Cangyun's eyes went wide as he stared at Ye Yu, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Two hours? You only used two hours?! How did you do it?"

"Want to learn? Become my disciple, and I'll teach you." Ye Yu looked at Cangyun with a grin.

Cangyun's mouth twitched—those were the very words he had once said to Ye Yu. After a long pause, he shook his head. "Forget it. I walk my own path; you have your own way."

The three of them were chatting in the inn, but Ye Qingwan and her group were growing anxious. Ignoring Nangong Wushe's attempts to stop them, they descended straight toward the inn.

The people from the other dynasties sneered at the sight. The Great Yan royal family truly had no brains.

Nangong Wushe could only grit his teeth and follow, shielding Ye Qingwan and Ye Xuan.

Just as Ye Qingwan was about to knock, the inn door swung open, and Cangyun stepped out.

"Mas... Master Cangyun." Seeing Cangyun, Ye Qingwan and Ye Xuan were overjoyed. They hadn't expected him to be here—didn't that mean Cangyun had a close connection with this Seventh-Rank Alchemist?

They were foolish, not stupid; they wouldn't naively think Cangyun had been the one refining the pill.

At the sight of Cangyun, the people from the other dynasties also descended and bowed to him. As a Rank 6 Alchemist, he deserved such respect.

"What are you doing here?" Cangyun's tone was cold. He had just learned from Situ Guang about what Ye Yu had been through lately. Facing these two ungrateful wretches, he couldn't muster any goodwill.

Ye Qingwan nudged Ye Xuan beside her and shot him a meaningful look.

Ye Xuan understood instantly. He dropped to his knees and kowtowed to Cangyun. "Ye Xuan has come specially to seek Master Cangyun as my teacher."

As he saw it, since Cangyun was connected to that mysterious Seventh-Rank Alchemist, if he could become Cangyun's disciple, Cangyun might introduce him. With Ye Xuan's talent, perhaps the Seventh-Rank Alchemist would take him on as well.

"Heh, take you as a disciple? I wouldn't dare. I'm afraid you'd turn around and bite me one day. Find someone else." Cangyun sneered.

Everyone present was stunned. This was more than just a refusal—Cangyun's tone was outright hostile.

Wasn't the Great Yan Third Princess Cangyun's disciple? Why was he acting like this?

Ye Xuan looked up at Cangyun, a flash of venom in his eyes. As a Crown Prince, he had knelt publicly, swallowing his pride. Cangyun could refuse, but what was the meaning of those words?

"Master Cangyun, what do you mean by that? Is my little brother not good enough? If he can't catch your eye, then who can?" Ye Qingwan said indignantly.

Nangong Wushe's face changed drastically, and everyone else froze.

Was Ye Qingwan insane? Speaking to a Rank 6 Alchemist like that?!

But Ye Qingwan saw nothing wrong. In her eyes, Cangyun was her sister's master, a man of Great Yan. Since he belonged to Great Yan, he should obey her—just like Ye Yu.

Cangyun's expression turned icy, and he was about to lose his temper when Ye Xuan suddenly cried out, "Imperial Brother?!"

Everyone looked behind Cangyun to see Ye Yu and Situ Guang sitting in the inn, chatting amiably.

The people from the other dynasties darkened their faces. They hadn't expected the Great Qin people to get there first.

Ye Yu glanced up at the two of them indifferently, couldn't be bothered, and went back to discussing with Situ Guang how to take the Life Profound Origin Pill to maximize its effects.

Given Situ Guang's condition, if taken properly, it might even push him straight into Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

"Imperial Brother, why are you slandering me?" Ye Xuan looked up with a pitiful expression.

Ye Qingwan snapped back to reality and immediately connected it to Cangyun's earlier attitude. "You dog! You're useless yourself, and now you can't stand to see Xiao Xuan do well! How did the Great Yan royal family produce a bastard like you?!"

"If Xiao Xuan doesn't become Master Cangyun's disciple today, just wait and see how I deal with you!"

At her words, the people from the other dynasties frowned. They had heard about Ye Yu's recent troubles on the way here, but now it seemed they only knew the tip of the iceberg.

The Guardians, however, were even more shocked. They could clearly sense a dangerous aura from Ye Yu.

This seemingly harmless young man was no ordinary person.

"Imperial Brother, I know you don't like me, but there's no need for this. If I can become Master Cangyun's disciple, it would benefit all of Great Yan. If you won't think of me, at least think of the Great Yan people." Ye Xuan's voice was full of anguish.

It nearly broke Ye Qingwan's heart. She reached out with spiritual energy to grab Ye Yu, but Situ Guang snorted and blocked her.

Annoyed by the noise, Ye Yu finally spoke up. "You damn old man, this is your mess. Deal with it and stop bothering us."

At that address, everyone outside except Ye Qingxuan and Ye Xuan gasped.

Even Nangong Wushe stared at Ye Yu in shock. He dared to speak to Cangyun like that?!

But clearly, Ye Yu wasn't an idiot. If he talked to Cangyun that way, he had the backing to do so.

Ye Qingwan sneered. Talking to Cangyun like that—she wouldn't even need to lift a finger. Cangyun would make Ye Yu wish he'd never been born!

Ye Xuan looked at Cangyun expectantly, already imagining the scene of Cangyun crushing Ye Yu.