Lu Ruili fixed his gaze on Ye Qingyun, narrowing his eyes slightly as he spoke coldly.
"Did you injure my men?"
"Yes. Take me to see Black Rose."
Ye Qingyun replied.
Hearing this, Lu Ruili's heart sank.
What kind of damn bad luck was this today?
First, some bitch kicked him right in the groin, and now some suicidal punk was causing trouble at his front door.
A fierce look crossed Lu Ruili's face. Groping at his waist, he drew a pistol and fired straight at Ye Qingyun.
"Where did this suicidal little punk come from? You injure my men, and then you dare order me around? Go to hell!"
Bang!
A bullet tore through the air, whistling toward Ye Qingyun.
At this range, Lu Ruili was certain he would blow the kid's head to pieces!
Scarface wore a cruel smile on his face.
"Kid, I admit you can fight. But what good is being able to fight? Can you fight a bullet..."
Before Scarface could finish his sentence, he froze completely.
Because right in front of him, Ye Qingyun raised his hand and made a pinching gesture.
A black object was spinning in his palm. Due to its extreme speed, faint wisps of white smoke were actually rising from it.
Everyone looked closely, and saw that the object between Ye Qingyun's fingers was none of a bullet!
Dead silence instantly fell over the area!
Immediately following that came the sound of one sharp intake of breath after another.
Scarface swallowed hard, saying in utter disbelief.
"This... how is this possible?!"
The way he looked at Ye Qingyun now was filled with absolute awe!
Clang!
Ye Qingyun casually tossed the bullet onto the ground.
That soft sound made many hearts violently thump.
Everyone looked at Ye Qingyun with faces full of dread.
Ye Qingyun spoke to Lu Ruili once more.
"Take me to see Black Rose."
Lu Ruili trembled all over, and hastily answered.
"Who are you, Your Excellency? What is your business with my master?"
"That is not for you to consider. I'll say it again: take me to Black Rose, or die."
As he finished speaking, a flash of murderous intent crossed Ye Qingyun's eyes.
Although Ye Qingyun had spent the last five years entirely up in the mountains, the killing intent he carried was genuine!
The old man had specifically used the Illusion Realm to train Ye Qingyun in the mountains.
Inside the Illusion Realm, Ye Qingyun had once fought against tens of thousands of troops and taken the enemy general's head.
The killing intent he possessed had been forged through actual slaughter!
Lu Ruili's entire body went rigid. A thought flashed through his mind: if he did not agree to Ye Qingyun, he would die.
So he nodded at Ye Qingyun.
"Fine, I'll take you."
......
In the city center, Zai Shui Yi Fang.
This was the highest-class leisure establishment in Jiangning City.
Here, entertainment, gaming, dining, and lodging... everything was available.
In a luxurious hot spring.
A delicate-looking woman was bathing.
Her snow-white skin was half-hidden beneath the rising mist, holding a unique allure.
She was none other than the Queen of the Underworld, Zhou Ruoyan.
Having soaked enough in the hot spring, Zhou Ruoyan was dressed with the assistance of two maids.
Afterward, she walked into a luxurious private suite and leaned lazily against a chair.
A female subordinate stepped forward and spoke respectfully to Zhou Ruoyan.
"Master, Wang Yongjun, the president of United Group, has sent you an authentic work by a master, titled 'Ladies Journey in the Tang Dynasty'."
"Open it."
Zhou Ruoyan said casually.
Then, the female subordinate slowly unfolded an ancient painting on the table before Zhou Ruoyan.
The painting depicted an empress on an excursion through the imperial gardens.
The empress was dressed in flowing robes, wearing a phoenix crown and gorgeous attire.
Armored soldiers stood at attention behind the empress, displaying her aura of overlooking the entire world!
Gazing at the painting, Zhou Ruoyan's beautiful eyes lit up.
Splendid! Wasn't the empress in this painting none other than herself at this very moment?
As the Queen of the Underworld in Jiangning City, with countless subordinates at her command, a single stomp of her foot would make the entire city tremble!
Furthermore, Zhou Ruoyan's favorite hobby was ancient paintings.
The ancient painting before her struck a deep chord in her heart!
"Good, good, good!"
Zhou Ruoyan repeated the word "good" three times, showing how satisfied she was with this "Ladies Journey in the Tang Dynasty".
She then told her subordinate:
"I accept this painting. Go and tell the person who sent it that this Queen will grant him one condition."
"Yes, Master!"
At that moment, a tall woman dressed in black tight-fitting clothes approached Zhou Ruoyan and spoke respectfully.
"Master, Master Lu of the Eight Doors Sect requests an audience."
"I won't see him."
Zhou Ruoyan curled her red lips.
"Master, he says he has a very important matter to report to you in person."
Zhou Ruoyan frowned and said.
"Let him in."
Soon, Lu Ruili brought Ye Qingyun before Zhou Ruoyan.
Looking at Lu Ruili, Zhou Ruoyan said coldly.
"Master Lu, what is your business?"
Pointing at Ye Qingyun, Lu Ruili replied to Zhou Ruoyan:
"Master, this man insisted on seeing you. If I hadn't brought him along, he would have killed me."
As those words fell, the atmosphere instantly turned glacial.
Many people cast murderous glares at Ye Qingyun!
How audacious! How dare he threaten someone belonging to the Queen of the Underworld!
Zhou Ruoyan's gaze landed on Ye Qingyun.
For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity about the young man standing before her.
She took the initiative to speak.
"Young man, why are you looking for me?"
As soon as Ye Qingyun entered the private suite, he saw Zhou Ruoyan sitting in the master's seat.
The Zhou Ruoyan of the present was vastly different from the one of five years ago.
She lay lazily against the chair, displaying her graceful figure to the fullest, while her brows exuded the imposing aura of someone in a position of power.
"Zhou Ruoyan, it's me, Ye Qingyun. I'm back."
Ye Qingyun said calmly.
"Audacious! How dare you address the Master by her given name! You must have a death wish!"
Before Zhou Ruoyan could react, a tall woman rebuked Ye Qingyun, her eyes filled with intense murderous intent.
Not only her, but many others as well looked at Ye Qingyun with eyes full of murder.
At a single command from Zhou Ruoyan, this crowd would swarm forward and hack the punk who had offended their master into pieces!
Upon hearing the name Ye Qingyun, Zhou Ruoyan's slender, beautiful eyes narrowed as she said coldly.
"Ye Qingyun, you didn't die?"
"Thanks to you, I didn't die. This time, I've come to take your life."
Ye Qingyun said calmly.
His tone was as casual as if he were discussing something utterly mundane.
"Audacious! How dare you speak disrespectfully to the Master!"
Several subordinates loyal to Zhou Ruoyan were filled with rage and moved to strike.
However, with a wave of Zhou Ruoyan's hand, they obediently stayed put.
They continued to glare at Ye Qingyun with sullen expressions!
Zhou Ruoyan tapped her fingers lightly on the chair.
Years of experience had given her a composed temperament.
At the same time, she felt a certain intrigue toward this former lover standing before her.
"Ye Qingyun, you are truly ignorant. I am no longer the person I was five years ago.
Today, my reach in Jiangning City extends everywhere. Crushing you would be as easy as crushing an ant.
Speaking of which, I owe my current status largely to you.
Had it not been for your blood, I would have died long ago from blood loss. It was you who gave me a second life.
As for what happened five years ago, I admit I wronged you, and I regret it.
Now, I'll give you a chance: become my subordinate, and I'll guarantee you a life of wealth and glory."