Doing as One Pleased

A month had passed since the Yin-Yang Spirit Wood Heart had been refined.

First, every last remnant of the Yu Clan had been cut down, while the Zhao Clan and the others had been reduced to servants. For a time, blood flowed like a river, and every sigh of the wind and cry of a crane caused alarm. The five remaining local clans trembled with fear.

Then came a restructuring. To curry favor with the young master, the clans of Qingyu exhausted their precious treasures to build a new palace retreat.

Its pavilions and towers were splendid and elegant, and a great many rare treasures, beauties, and Demon Beasts had been gathered there.

Within the palace grounds lay a lake called Azure Wood Spirit Lake. Willow fronds bore fresh green leaves, the spring waters had just settled, and life flourished everywhere.

Dressed in plain azure robes, Ye Jinyu sat at his leisure in a waterside pavilion, his long hair loose and an azure bamboo fishing rod in hand. A rare half day of leisure in a fleeting life.

The world did not bend to his will, and even cultivation required a balance of work and rest.

Besides, wasn't cultivating immortality about doing as one pleased?

His gaze rested on the float, looking absently at the ripples spreading across the lake, his mind serene.

Beneath the water, the fish eyed the bait like tigers watching their prey, but none bit the hook.

The Zhao Clan's two beauties stood in attendance behind him. They had managed to keep their lives and become attendants to Young Master Ye. Both were at Foundation Establishment and had cultivated the immortal foundation Azure Yang Reflects Wood.

Clad in light robes and thin gauze, they had slender figures, their clothes fitting their prominent curves perfectly. With beauties at his side before the waterside pavilion, they made a lovely sight.

Neither joy nor sorrow showed on the sisters' faces. A pure air bearing the spiritual grace of plants and trees emanated from them. Their innate Azure Wood Spirit Bodies were of great benefit to cultivation.

Apart from Yu Qinglin, they were also people of great fortune in this realm.

They were obedient and humble, knew when to advance and when to retreat, understood propriety, and were accomplished young ladies of a great clan. Over the past month, they had also been trained well.

"Why aren't any fish taking the hook in this lake? Is my bait not to their liking, or are the fish in this lake... too cautious?" Ye Jinyu suddenly spoke in a mild voice, as if to himself.

The moment he finished, a sharp light flashed in the eyes of Ye Anlan, who stood serving at a distance, his expression tense!

What an opportunity!

Without a moment's hesitation, or even asking permission, he plunged into the spring lake, whose waters still held a chill.

Water splashed lightly as Law Power surged around him, keeping the lake water at bay. His Divine Sense spread out like a net, swiftly locating several plump spirit carp swimming nearby.

In the next instant, his hand shot out like lightning and seized the liveliest of the red-scaled spirit carp. He wrapped it in Law Power to keep it from struggling free of the hook.

Then he quickly swam back to the waterside pavilion, carefully brought the spirit carp's mouth close to Ye Jinyu's dangling hook, and deftly fastened its lip onto it.

The whole sequence flowed like clouds and water, taking no more than two or three breaths.

"Young master, a fish has taken the hook." Ye Anlan leaped back into the pavilion, drenched from head to toe. He used Law Power to dry himself and stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, a trace of restrained excitement and ingratiation in his voice.

Only then did Ye Jinyu seem to notice. He lifted his wrist slightly, drawing the fruitlessly struggling spirit carp out of the water. After looking at it, he casually tossed it back into the lake, raising a small splash.

He turned his head, his calm gaze falling on Ye Anlan.

The garrison commander's son had once been willful and even arrogant, yet he could not rank among the top ten of the Ye Clan's younger generation.

Burning desire and cautious flattery filled Ye Anlan's eyes.

"Anlan, Foundation Establishment Late Stage... wind attribute... you intend to cultivate Wind Crushes Mountains in the future." Ye Jinyu spoke without any discernible pleasure or displeasure in his voice. "You're not bad... but our Ye Clan has quite a few geniuses. At the end of this year..."

Ye Anlan's heart tightened. He immediately dropped to one knee. "This subordinate... this subordinate only wishes to ease the young master's burdens."

"This subordinate knows I was absurd in the past, unfit for any great task. But I too carry the Ye Clan's blood, the blood of Cloud Haze Azure Firmament. How could I be content to be mediocre?"

"I am willing to go before you and serve you like a dog or horse, to win myself a future! If anyone among the branches of Yunlan dares act presumptuously, I will deal with them for you, young master... whatever the means."

His words were sincere, and his head hung low.

What did face, the past, or beauties matter? How could I not cling to the mighty backer before me?

That meant a future, tangible power, resources, and even authority.

Apart from strength, none of it was worth mentioning.

The only son of a True Lord, in control of a territory of his own-following the young master promised a future far brighter than following his own father, the garrison commander.

Besides, his father had been granted Wind of a Thousand Decays to cultivate as his second Divine Ability. Before entering seclusion, he had repeatedly instructed Ye Anlan to follow the young master closely.

This was their chance to turn things around. The heavens over the Lineage had already changed.

His intention to offer his allegiance was plain for all to see.

Ye Jinyu looked at him for a moment, then suddenly chuckled. The sound made Ye Anlan's heart tighten further.

"Get up." Ye Jinyu gently tapped his shoulder with the fishing rod.

"You're right. This is precisely when I need people. You're a member of the Ye Clan, and the same blood flows in our veins. That makes us the closest of kin. As the saying goes, appoint your own kin and those close to you.

"You're loyal. If I don't employ you, should I employ outsiders of dubious intentions and unknown backgrounds instead?"

Ye Anlan jerked his head up, his eyes blazing with delighted surprise.

"This is a wisp of calamity wind source Qi, a crucial component for cultivating the Divine Ability Calamity Wind Shuo. Take it and cultivate with it. Refine it into your Dao foundation, and your combat strength will rise another step."

"There's also some leftover spirit wood origin... I'll grant you that as well. As for resources and Cultivation Methods, go to Xu Feng for them..."

"With these, even among the younger generation of our Ye Clan, you'll count as one of the outstanding ones..."

Ye Anlan trembled slightly with excitement and kowtowed heavily. "Young master, your kindness is immense! Anlan will dash out his brains and spill his blood, serve you with unwavering loyalty, and never fail you!"

Anlan knew this was a sign that the young master intended to accept him and build a core of trusted followers.

Then Ye Jinyu spoke meaningfully.

"Heh heh heh, there's no need to be so grave, talking about death and all... It's just that I've heard... some elders of our clan in the Thirty-Two Peaks of Cloudmist have been spreading rumors... saying that someone from Third Uncle's household should be our clan's foremost genius."

"Several geniuses from the collateral branches on the peaks have also echoed them and stirred up support."

"They have some complaints about me, a young master at Qi Refinement... saying it's all because I have a True Lord for a father... that the Lineage is unfair."

"Of course, I am broad-minded and open-hearted as a valley. Back then, I didn't care about such things, so I went to stay with the Xiao Clan for some peace and quiet.

"I don't care about things like... status... or the title of young master, but if I simply let them go on like this, wouldn't it damage Father's face?"

"Father stands above the heavens and naturally pays such things no mind... but how can I, his son, stand by and watch?"

At this point, Ye Jinyu's eyes turned slightly cold.

"Focus on your cultivation and refine what I've given you. After some time, will you go back and deliver a message for me?"

Hearing this, Ye Anlan thought, This young master is petty too... he holds grudges.

Recalling certain things that had happened in the clan recently, he understood and kowtowed heavily once more.

"Rest assured, young master... Anlan will not fail you. I will be sure to teach them a thing or two and deliver your message."

"Go." Ye Jinyu waved a hand and passed him a written challenge...

Smiling, he said,

"I don't want to wait until the end of the year... by then, I'll be waiting for them to kneel before me, their young master... let's settle this early. I'll be waiting for them."

Ye Anlan withdrew respectfully, his footsteps much heavier than before.

Was this a demand for a pledge of allegiance?

Since I'm on the young master's side, I must show what I can do. The young master wants to establish his authority...

If I suppress, bully, and teach the clan's disciples a lesson without cause, the elders on the peaks will surely protect them, and the punishment elder certainly won't let me off.

Lord Xu Feng... is a True Lord's incarnation. Does the young master mean for us to go together?

So what if he's the punishment elder? I'm one of the young master's men.

Heh heh heh... throwing my weight around is what I do best.

At that thought, Ye Anlan could not help but bare a vicious grin, clutching the calamity wind origin in his hand.

You've always looked down your noses at others, putting on airs and looking down on my father, Ye Guyi, a newly advanced Purple Mansion cultivator, and on me, who fought and struggled my way through the Ruin Realm.

Who would have thought that someone like me would win the young master's favor?

Just wait and see how I repay you.