Chapter 123: All Changes Within Expectation (3)

Jing Shushu, a woman who appears naive and worldly-innocent on the surface, is actually teeming with calculated schemes and hidden agendas. From the very beginning, her closeness to Ye Zheng has served only one purpose: to thoroughly understand him so that she might one day replace him—either by her own hand or through someone else. Recently, she has set her sights on Gu Mojian, Ye Zheng’s eldest disciple. Although that human is deeply cunning and guarded, he is a perfect candidate, for he shares her own ambition: the desire to usurp Ye Zheng and seize control of the Three Lower Realms from the highest vantage point. Ye Zheng has occupied that lofty position for ten thousand years; it is time for him to step aside.

"No one who has dared to point fingers at my work has ever lived to tell the tale. You would do well not to seek your own demise, girl," Ye Zheng murmured, his gaze dipping as he cast a look of disdain toward Jing Shushu.

She was an interesting creature. To think she had set her sights on Gu Mojian so quickly suggested that they would soon be making their move. Things were progressing even faster than he had anticipated; he didn't even need to intervene, as a pack of fools was rushing to accelerate the events themselves. That was just as well; it saved him time and effort.

"My Lord, that is not a fair thing to say. After all, Gu Mojian is madly in love with me. Surely you wouldn’t want your own disciple to fall into ruin over a woman?" Jing Shushu covered her mouth to hide a smirk, her eyes fixed intently on Ye Zheng. What of being a person of high status? If they were determined enough, the day would come when that position would change hands.

"What has that to do with me? If he cannot even handle a situation like this, what face does he have to call himself my disciple?" He scoffed. A woman of such shallow intellect, truly ignorant of the consequences! If Ye Zheng felt like intervening, he would; if he did not, what did it matter to him? If he were truly annoyed, he might very well deal with the situation personally—it was not as if he hadn't done so before. Ye Zheng was not a name that just anyone could provoke. The Red-Tailed Fox clan had grown arrogant, daring to challenge him to his face. If he did not respond accordingly, perhaps they would forget exactly who Ye Zheng was.

He raised his hand and struck Jing Shushu across the face. The slap was crisp and loud, leaving her stunned and motionless. She had not expected him to strike her. To think Ye Zheng would actually hit a woman—was he even a man? How could he bully a woman so?

"I have never once claimed that I do not strike women. If you make me unhappy, do you honestly believe you will have an easy life?" His eyes turned cold as he glared at her, a mocking smile curling his lips that struck straight at her heart. She was nothing more than an insolent woman; what did it matter if he struck her? Who would dare blame him?

"Spend less time prancing in front of me, or I shall not mind wiping out the entire Red-Tailed Fox clan." It seemed he had been too lenient lately, leading them to forget their own station. Though he eagerly anticipated their rebellion so that he could begin his tribulation, he would not tolerate their insolence, especially regarding such provocations. The changes afoot were all of his own making; he could undo them with a mere wave of his hand. It was a pity they were all too foolish to notice the subtle shifts. It seemed none of them possessed the gift of intuition; it was as if it simply did not exist within them. Or perhaps, being mere spirits and beasts, they truly lacked the complexity of human minds, destined only to foolishly follow in the footprints of others.

"My Lord is right. It was Shushu who was rude; I beg for your mercy." Hearing his words, Jing Shushu realized her miscalculation and immediately knelt to plead for forgiveness. Of course—having been the supreme ruler for ten thousand years, how could he possibly care for such trivial matters? It was her own carelessness.

"Go back. I will not interfere in your affairs with Gu Mojian, but do not bring trouble to my doorstep." With a wave of his hand, he turned and headed toward a nearby restaurant. Sitting in such a place always offered the chance to hear interesting things, perhaps even talk of himself. Understanding how others perceived him was useful for his own growth, allowing him to correct and change his mistakes in a timely manner.

This Duan Tianya… the Yu family’s signs were everywhere, a shop every three steps, two of which were sure to be theirs. This restaurant was no exception. He could enjoy a meal for free once again.

"Waiter, bring a few jugs of fine wine and some side dishes!" He pulled out a jade token and shook it, then strolled into a private room. The waiter, recognizing a member of the Yu family, hurried to prepare the food and drink, terrified of slighting the masters.

"Manager, a young master from the main family has arrived! He wants fine wine and dishes in the Heaven-rank room!" The waiter was sharp, whispering the news to the manager.

One could not offend a young master of the main family. The one who had arrived today did not look like one of the branch descendants; his attire and demeanor were clearly that of a direct heir.

"A young master? Didn't that one just leave? Which other direct heir could it be?" The manager was bewildered. Hadn't Yu Zidu only just departed? Could it be that their Lord Snake had an illegitimate son? That was impossible! Given the temper of the Lady of the House, such a thing was out of the question—unless the Lord was tired of living.

"Why are you dawdling? That is a distinguished guest; just serve him what he asks for and stop with the idle questions." Yu Qiuming walked in from outside and glared at the manager. Was this old fellow really so gossipy? Was he so bored that he had to indulge in such wild fantasies? If his wife ever found out, she would peel his skin off!

"My Lord, is he... is he that person?" The manager was truly curious; he had heard rumors that the Great Lord was staying in Duan Tianya. He had also heard that the Lord had taken a young master as a disciple—this was magnificent news!

"Less gossip, go prepare the food. Be careful, or the Lord might just snap your neck if he's in a bad mood." Yu Qiuming made a throat-slitting gesture before heading directly to Ye Zheng’s room. To think this man was drinking without calling him! He had been busy enough to lose his mind lately, exhausted by his parents' endless and unreasonable demands. It was enough to drive him mad.

"I say, why aren't you at home sleeping? To think you'd sneak off to drink without me—that's hardly brotherly of you!" Pushing the door open, he shouted at Ye Zheng. They were supposed to be brothers, yet he hadn't been invited for a drink. Did Ye Zheng even consider him a brother anymore?

"I didn't need to call you; you'd have come anyway. Besides, you'd only get beaten by Fanghua if you went home smelling of wine. I didn't call you for your own good." Ye Zheng replied languidly. Yu Qiuming immediately fell silent. That was entirely too cruel of him—how could he bring up such a thing so casually?