Was He Really That Man?

"Brother Tyrant Fist, isn't there only one Ye Residence in White Cloud City?"

Song Zhaoyi tilted her head and looked at Cao Youqian behind her, asking a question.

"Good."

Cao Youqian nodded, a look of reminiscence on his face. "During my years as a playboy at the Dao Dao-Seeking Academy, I had a crony who was a direct descendant of the Ye Clan. I originally wanted to give him his name, but I forgot and had to ask the gatekeepers to go to the Ye Clan themselves."

???

Song Zhaoyi looked at Cao Youqian with a confused expression and asked, "But how could ordinary soldiers in White Cloud City dare to ask the Ye Residence for an entrance fee?"

Cao Youqian shrugged nonchalantly. "That's none of my business. As the top playboy of the Dao-Seeking Academy, how could I possibly lose face if word got out that I had to pay an entrance fee to this mere White Cloud City?"

"..."

Song Zhaoyi looked at him with a face full of black lines. "Brother Qian, you look like a villain from a novel."

"You're not the first person to say that."

Cao Youqian said with a smile, "My master often said that someone like me wouldn't survive more than three episodes in a traditional Chinese novel."

Song Zhaoyi: "..."

The Ye Residence in White Cloud City is more of a palace than a mansion.

The Ye Residence covers an area of hundreds of thousands of acres and features magnificent architecture on a grand scale.

The palace was magnificent and resplendent, like a palace in the heavens.

On the city wall, an eagle swooped down and landed beside a guard. The guard took a letter from the eagle's talons, examined it closely, and his expression changed slightly.

A colleague standing nearby asked, "Brother Xiao Qi, what happened?"

Ye Qi is from a collateral branch of the Ye Clan; otherwise, he wouldn't have served as the guardian of the White Tiger Gate.

He frowned and said, "A letter came from the west gate saying that Cao Youqian, a prodigy from the Dao-Seeking Academy, has come to our Ye Residence."

The colleague said, "Although Cao Youqian is a prodigy of the Dao Dao-Seeking Academy, our Ye Clan is also protected by Half-Saint. He shouldn't come looking for trouble at this time, right?"

Ye Qi handed the letter to his colleague, whose expression turned strange after reading it. He muttered to himself, "These prodigies are truly baffling. What should we do?"

"You stay here and guard the place. I'll go and inform Young Master Xiao. They are all geniuses from the Dao Dao-Seeking Academy, so they must have some connection. Perhaps Cao Youqian has come to see Young Master Xiao." As a member of the Ye Clan, Ye Qi naturally knew that with the exchange meeting imminent, the Ye Residence would not allow anyone to cause trouble.

The colleague nodded. "I understand, Brother Xiao Qi, you can go now."

In the back courtyard of the Ye Clan residence.

Ye Lingxiao sat in the main seat, looking around at the Ye Clan members present.

Just as he was about to speak, a guard trotted in from outside the door.

"Young Master Xiao, Ye Qi, the garrison commander of White Tiger Gate, requests an audience, saying he has important matters to discuss with you."

Ye Lingxiao frowned slightly and said, "Let him in."

"Promise."

A short while after the guards left, Ye Qi entered the courtyard, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Ye Qi greets Young Master Xiao and all the young masters."

No need for formalities.

Ye Lingxiao said calmly, "What is it?"

Ye Qi reported, "Reporting to Young Master Xiao, Cao Youqian from the Dao-Seeking Academy is about to visit, and he has even sent city gate soldiers to our Ye Residence to demand an entrance fee?"

???

Several big question marks appeared on Ye Lingxiao's forehead. What was Cao Youqian up to? I don't know him at all. Besides, who visits someone like this? This guy is supposed to be a genius of the Dao Dao-Seeking Academy, how come he hasn't lost any of his spoiled brat nature?

"I understand. You may leave now."

"Promise."

Ye Qi had already delivered the message, so he turned and left.

Ye Lingxiao couldn't understand it, so he asked, "Gentlemen, what do you think is the purpose of Cao Youqian's actions?"

Just as everyone fell silent, a lazy voice rang out.

"Brother Lingxiao, I have a bold guess: Young Master Qian came to ask me to have a drink."

Upon hearing this, everyone present immediately turned their attention to the corner.

A young nobleman in fine clothes, waving a folding fan, was smiling at the crowd. His other hand was also busy stroking a spirited white wolf beside him.

"A Kun, are you sure?"

Ye Lingxiao didn't have much of an impression of this cousin. Although they were both disciples of the Dao-Seeking Academy, he had gotten to where he was today through his own strength.

This guy only got into the Dao-Seeking Academy because of his family connections. If it weren't for his talent in beast taming, which allowed him to barely enter the inner sect of the Beast Taming Institute, he would have been sent to guard one of the Ye Clan's properties long ago, and he wouldn't be here at all.

Ye Lingkun laughed and said, "I'm not sure, but when we were drinking and carousing together before, I bragged to the young masters of the Dao-Seeking Academy that if we encountered anything in White Cloud City, they could just shout a word, and if they disagreed, they could come to the Ye Residence to cause me trouble."

The Ye Clan members. "..."

"So it's you who's been tarnishing the reputation of the Ye Clan all day long. How dare you say such things?"

Ye Lingxiao's lips twitched slightly. "A Kun, say less of these kinds of things in the future, lest you bring trouble upon yourself. Since Junior Brother Cao is your friend, you will be in charge of receiving him. Treat him according to the rules. Just take good care of Junior Brother Cao for the next few days, and don't worry about anything else."

Upon hearing this, Ye Lingkun's face immediately lit up with joy. He stood up and said, "Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll go greet Young Master Qian. Having people wait outside would only make the Ye Clan seem impolite."

"Um."

Ye Lingxiao waved his hand, signaling his cousin to leave quickly so he wouldn't be an eyesore.

Ye Lingkun patted the white wolf beside him. "Xiao Ai, let's go."

"Awoo..."

The white wolf let out a Lang Xiao, then opened its mouth, grabbed Ye Lingkun's clothes, and threw him onto its back, disappearing into the courtyard amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd.

One hour later.

Cao Youqian and Song Zhaoyi arrived at the White Tiger Gate of the Ye Residence.

Just as he was about to knock on the door, a surprised voice came from the city gate. "Young Master Qian, it really is you!"

Cao Youqian looked up and saw a group of guards surrounding a man with a white wolf, like stars surrounding the moon. The man's nickname quickly popped into his mind.

"Young Master Kun, what are you standing there for? Open the door now, or do you want to catch up with me like this?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I almost forgot about that."

Young Master Kun patted Ye Qi beside him. "Quickly open the city gates and welcome Young Master Qian in. No, I want to personally welcome Young Master Qian."

Click... Click...

The city gate slowly opened, and Young Master Kun, accompanied by a group of guards, walked out and bowed, saying:

"Young Master Qian, your presence is an honor. I apologize for not greeting you sooner. I will punish myself with three drinks tonight."

Cao Youqian jumped off the Big Cat's back, holding Song Zhaoyi in his arms, and said with a smile, "You're always thinking about good things. Enough nonsense, lead the way. Tonight is your responsibility."

"Absolutely, leave it to me."

Young Master Kun patted his chest with a proud expression and said.

This scene completely stunned Ye Qi and his group.

After a long silence, a guard lowered his voice and asked, "Lord Ye Qi, was that man really the one from the rumors?"