Chapter 86: Never Force Yourself to Show Off

Virtue Master! The Way of Law is supreme!

Suddenly, a black hole coalesced in the void, spiraling like a vortex. From within the blackness strode forth an elder.

He was bald, his scalp gleaming, yet from his temples a cascade of hair flowed down to his chin, forming a long, sweeping beard. Such a beard made Ye Kun feel as though the man’s hair had simply grown in reverse.

The elder was clad in plain white robes, his left hand gripping an ordinary cane, atop which three unopened bottles of wine were bound. Yet his face was flushed with the red of intoxication, a smile curling beneath his wrinkles. He appeared thoroughly inebriated, but his eyes were sharp and shrewd.

Ye Ming let out a sigh of relief, the Cloud Thunder Roar in his hand slowly dissipating. But a closer look revealed that his palm had been burned down to the flesh—had he held it a few moments longer, his entire right arm might have been ruined!

A bitter taste welled in his heart; he had shown off too much this time, but if he hadn’t, how else could the Virtue Master be drawn here?

“Old man! You’re still alive…” The Virtue Master, hovering midair, suddenly called out in surprise to Old Wei.

Old Wei, still sipping from his cup, raised his head slowly. “Almost not.”

The Virtue Master descended beside him and murmured, “If you’d learned the Way of Law from me back then, you’d be better off now. Looks like you’re on your last legs.”

“Death comes for all; mine will be a worthy one.” Old Wei sipped his wine, his tone unrepentant.

“You truly take life and death lightly,” the Virtue Master remarked.

“So long as a man accomplishes a few things in life to bring him comfort, he can die with his eyes closed. I’ve done all I should.” Old Wei lifted his wine pot and poured a cup for the Virtue Master.

The Virtue Master sighed quietly; never in this life had his senior brother poured him a drink before. “Speak.”

“I have an excellent student. If I’m gone one day, look after him.”

“What kind of student would make you ask this of me?” The Virtue Master was genuinely surprised. His senior brother, asking him to care for a disciple—was he not afraid the others would grow jealous?

“That young bald fellow on the stage. In time you’ll see just how exceptional he is.”

The Virtue Master gazed at Ye Kun, who happened to look back at that moment. Their eyes met.

The Virtue Master smiled faintly. “Is this your last request?”

“It is.”

“Very well, I promise you.”

“Thank you.”

“No need.”

Ye Yang and the others watched with curiosity. What was the relationship between the Virtue Master and that old man? They spoke as friends, yet their expressions belied something else.

The Ye family too was puzzled—just who was Old Wei? Especially Ye Kun, who felt his teacher seemed to know everyone.

The Virtue Master drained the wine his brother poured him, then rose to his feet and turned his gaze to Ye Yang and the others.

They respectfully clasped their hands and greeted him, “Greetings, Virtue Master.”

In Taijing, aside from the Saint, none were held in higher esteem than the Virtue Master. To call him the foremost in the Way of Law was no exaggeration. Even the Saint would yield to him in deference; there were few in all of East Netherworld who could practice the Way of Law to such mastery.

“What are you doing here?” The Virtue Master asked, his eyes fixed upon the three.

They were struck dumb, at a loss for words.

Yan Chengtian stepped forward, bowing deeply. “Virtue Master, Ye Ming has defied the Saint’s decree and shown him disrespect. He deserves death!”

“I think it’s you who deserve punishment!” the Virtue Master replied sternly, his gaze sharp.

The three bowed their heads even lower, utterly confused. Was the Virtue Master here to help? They’d never heard of any connection between him and Ye Ming.

“Do you think I don’t know what schemes you harbor? Tarnishing the Saint’s reputation!” the Virtue Master chided.

The three immediately knelt on one knee, hands clasped in submission. “We wouldn’t dare!”

“I say you dare plenty!” he rebuked.

Truth be told, Ye Ming was himself astonished by the Virtue Master’s arrival. He had expected someone to mediate, but never imagined it would be him.

Without another word to Ye Ming, the Virtue Master gave his cane a casual wave, and a circular teleportation array appeared before them.

A collective gasp rose from the crowd—he conjured such an array as easily as breathing! Clearly, his cultivation had reached new heights.

“Well, why are you just standing there?” the Virtue Master called from the center of the array. The three, like chastened children, entered the formation reluctantly.

Dongfang Kua was forced to tuck his nephew under his arm—Dongfang Shuang had been unconscious from the very start, the poor child suffering from both dizziness and a punch to the face.

“Mu’er, come with your father!” Yan Chengtian called to his daughter.

Yan Mu pursed her lips, but instead took hold of Ye Kun’s wrist, making her intentions clear.

“Very good! Now you’ve grown wings! From this day forth, Yan Chengtian has no daughter like you!” He believed she must have seen some advantage in staying, and so chose to sever ties.

But then he thought, perhaps Mu’er’s show of defiance was a ruse to win the Ye family’s trust. If so, he should play along.

“I am already my husband’s,” Yan Mu declared sweetly. Whatever daughter you once had is gone.

“Very well! From now on, we are strangers!” Yan Chengtian shouted, and entered the formation.

The Virtue Master cast a long, searching glance at Old Wei.

As the formation vanished, all those who came to stir up trouble were gone in an instant.

Seeing their departure, Ye Ming finally relaxed, his taut nerves giving way as he collapsed backward.

Dongmen Meng, who had anticipated this, caught him gently and murmured, “It’s enough that you killed them. Why did you bring out the Cloud Thunder Roar?”

“Could you bear to drag the children into exile with us?” he replied.

“I think you just can’t let go, using the children as an excuse,” Dongmen Meng retorted.

Ye Ming could only smile bitterly.

“Father!” Ye Kun and Ye Qin rushed over. Their father had been so formidable just moments ago, but now that the danger had passed, he seemed utterly spent.

Ye Ming looked at his sons and smiled. “I’m fine—just need a few days’ rest. I haven’t embarrassed you, have I?”

“Father!” Ye Kun and Ye Qin sighed helplessly. Couldn’t their father be serious for a moment? His moments of heroism lasted all of three breaths.

Ye Ming wanted to tease his sons, but he was simply too exhausted. The divine sword’s power was overwhelming—no ordinary man could wield it. Even those who could would eventually be devoured by it; such is the price of flaunting strength.

“Your father needs to rest now.” If not for his current state, Dongmen Meng would have wanted to scold him thoroughly. Why must he show off with the divine sword, only to suffer its backlash?

Suddenly, Dongmen Meng remembered something and turned to Ye Kun. “By the way, let’s go through the wedding rites. You’re husband and wife now, after all.”

Ye Kun’s mouth twitched. Mother, isn’t this a bit hasty?

“First, bow to heaven and earth!”

“Second, bow to the ancestors!”

“Husband and wife, bow to each other!”

“Off to your chamber, then. Kun, here’s a Vitality Pill—take one halfway through, it’s good for your health. Your wife is beautiful, but don’t get carried away—there’s plenty of time ahead.”