Faced with everyone's fury, far from being angry, Han Ziyan grew even more excited. Her breathing quickened slightly, two patches of rosy flush bloomed on her cheeks, and she relished this thrilling scene.
No one could have guessed just how wild a heart beat beneath this icy goddess exterior.
"Kill him! Avenge Lord Fourth!"
They closed in on Ye Ning from all sides, launching their attack.
The guests cried out in alarm and scrambled away, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire.
Li Biao gritted his teeth and charged forward, determined to help Ye Ning fend them off.
After all, Ye Ning was his mother's savior, and Li Biao couldn't just stand by and watch him beaten to death.
In that moment, he completely forgot that Ye Ning was an Ancient Martial Artist.
Right then, Ye Ning made his move. With a single slap, he sent the man in the very front flying straight through the air.
Then, Ye Ning took the initiative and charged into the fray.
*Bang, bang, bang.*
It was the sound of fists colliding with flesh.
Chen Hong's subordinates flew backward even faster than they had rushed in.
They crashed to the ground several meters away, groaning incessantly.
More than twenty of Chen Hong's men were dispatched by Ye Ning in under a minute.
The sight left everyone dumbfounded; none of them had expected Ye Ning to be such an incredible fighter.
"My husband is mighty!" Han Ziyan cheered excitedly.
She was so thrilled that her entire body trembled slightly.
Ye Ning turned around, flashed her a faint smile, and looked effortlessly suave.
At that moment, one of the men collapsed on the ground pulled out a walkie-talkie and barked into it: "Everyone get in here! Lord Fourth has been killed!"
Instantly, a commotion erupted outside as a countless stream of people poured in—all of them Chen Hong's subordinates.
Li Biao's expression shifted drastically. He shouted to Ye Ning, "Mr. Ye, you get out of here first! I'll hold them off!"
With that, Li Biao called out to the men he had brought and prepared to charge ahead.
Ye Ning, however, shook his head and said, "Stay put. They aren't a threat to me."
With those words, Ye Ning strode forward to meet the incoming horde.
Amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd, he took them down one by one with a single move apiece, sending Chen Hong's rushing men flying through the air.
As those men hit the ground, they couldn't even stand up, left sprawled out and wailing.
Everyone was shocked. A certain celebrity once boasted about taking on ten people at once.
Right now, Ye Ning wasn't just taking on ten—the number of men piled on the floor was fast approaching a hundred.
Even so, more men kept flooding in.
Seeing Ye Ning in action, they finally realized that the legendary tales of single-handedly defeating ten thousand warriors were no exaggeration.
Han Ziyan grew more and more excited, her eyes fixed on Ye Ning filled with adoration.
Only now did she realize that when Ye Ning said he knew martial arts, he meant he was this terrifyingly powerful.
Just then, someone sneaked up behind Han Ziyan unnoticed, brandishing a knife that he pressed against her throat.
"Stop right there, or I'll kill her!"
Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the move, and Ye Ning's eyes turned icy cold.
Li Biao's expression darkened. When you cared about a hostage, you hesitated to strike, making it very easy to suffer a heavy loss.
If Ye Ning gave up his resistance, he was as good as dead.
Just as Li Biao wanted to issue a warning, he noticed that Ye Ning's expression had changed.
His gaze was so chilling it felt capable of killing; the temperature in the entire hall plummeted to freezing point in a split second at the shift in Ye Ning's demeanor.
Everyone felt as though the blood in their veins had been frozen solid, leaving them unable to move a single muscle, with only their minds still functioning.
They stared at Ye Ning in terror. Who would have thought his anger could be this terrifying?
"Remember one thing: before you kill me, don't you ever touch the people by my side. Otherwise, you'll regret ever coming into this world."
Ye Ning's voice was frigid, sounding as though it had crawled straight out of the nether hell, freezing the knife-wielding subordinate of Chen Hong in his tracks.
A boundless wave of regret suddenly surged in the man's heart. Why on earth had he provoked this man? Why had he tried to use Han Ziyan to threaten Ye Ning?
Before he even realized it, Ye Ning was already standing right beside him.
He grabbed the man's hand and, amidst the man's horrified gaze, squeezed hard.
*Crack.* The bones in the man's hand were crushed to powder.
That wasn't even the end of it. Under the man's terrified stare, Ye Ning struck his acupoints, and then proceeded to snap the bones in his entire body, inch by inch.
The man let out a shrill, piercing scream, veins bulging on his forehead and cold sweat pouring down his entire body, clearly in absolute agony.
Yet, he couldn't even pass out. Ye Ning had used his methods on him, amplifying his sensation of pain manifold while keeping his mind crystal clear.
"Enjoy yourself. You should still have about ten minutes left to live. Every single second of these next ten minutes will be sheer torture for you."
Ye Ning's voice rang out, sounding like a demon's whisper in the victim's ears.
The man trembled all over, staring at Ye Ning in terror, his eyes filled with endless remorse and despair.
Ignoring the wailing man, Ye Ning swept his gaze across the rest of Chen Hong's subordinates who had surrounded him, causing them to involuntarily step back.
"Move. Don't block my way."
Instead of stepping aside, a man in his early forties stepped out from the crowd and said coldly, "You killed Lord Fourth, and you still expect to walk away? I admit your skills are formidable, but can you outmatch a bullet?"
Following his words, two men drew handguns and aimed them straight at Ye Ning.
The pitch-black muzzles made everyone tense up. Terrified, they stared at the scene unfolding before them, never imagining that a banquet would ever devolve into this state.
Ye Ning said indifferently, "Two pieces of scrap metal. They pose no threat to me whatsoever."
"Heh, feel free to try. I know you must be an Ancient Martial Artist, but unless you're a Grandmaster, you won't be able to withstand the power of a bullet," the man sneered. He was Xu Shuo, Chen Hong's strategist and loyal follower.
Now that Chen Hong was dead, he loathed Ye Ning to the core and was determined to kill him to avenge his master.
"Heh."
Ye Ning chuckled. With a sudden blur of movement, he vanished and reappeared right in front of the two gunmen.
Before they could even react, Ye Ning snatched the guns right out of their hands.
Before the two men could process what happened, Ye Ning delivered a kick to each of their chests.
The two gunmen were sent flying a dozen meters back, their chests caved in, clearly beyond saving.
By the time the rest of the room reacted, Ye Ning had already tossed both pistols aside.
Xu Shuo froze, his face draining of color.
He had only remembered that anyone below a Grandmaster couldn't stop a bullet.
He had completely forgotten that the speed of an Ancient Martial Artist was something ordinary people could never hope to compare with.
Seeing Ye Ning's gaze land squarely on him, Xu Shuo shuddered.
"What are you trying to do?" Xu Shuo asked, his voice trembling.
"Kill you."
Ye Ning's voice drifted over.
"You wouldn't dare—"
Before Xu Shuo could finish his sentence, Ye Ning snapped his neck with a swift twist.
Sweeping his gaze over the terrified crowd, who were trembling in absolute silence, Ye Ning asked calmly, "Is there anyone else?"
The entire hall remained dead silent.
***
No one dared to utter a word. Everyone stared at Ye Ning's retreating figure as if they were looking at a ghost or a god.
He was far too terrifying; the awe and dread they felt toward him had reached its absolute peak.
It was horrifying beyond measure.
Li Biao stood there in a daze. He had already guessed that Ye Ning was an Ancient Martial Artist, but he still hadn't expected him to be this immensely powerful.
Lord Fourth Chen—none other than one of the most formidable factions in all of Xiaocheng—had been killed just like that.
As for his subordinates, an army of over a hundred men surrounding Ye Ning hadn't been a match for him at all, utterly decimated and scattered to the winds.
If Ye Ning hadn't shown mercy, most of those men wouldn't have made it out alive either.
"Li Biao, let's go together."
Ye Ning glanced at Li Biao.
Li Biao hesitated for a brief moment before following after him.
He knew very well that by leaving with Ye Ning, he was effectively declaring to everyone present that he was standing with Ye Ning.
For Li Biao, this came with a fair share of danger, but it was also a massive opportunity.
In the underground world, who ever let fear stop them?
After only a momentary pause, Li Biao hurried to catch up.
Han Ziyan looked at Li Biao with a hint of surprise, wondering how on earth Ye Ning knew this man.
While Li Biao wasn't the absolute strongest figure in Xiaocheng, he was certainly a heavily prominent name.
Whenever there was dirty work to be done, many people handed the jobs straight to Li Biao.
In the minds of countless locals, Li Biao was probably even scarier than Lord Fourth Chen.
Watching Li Biao leave in tow behind Ye Ning, Huang Tanlang looked deep in thought.
Anxiety gnawed at his heart. If Li Biao had ties to this terrifying monster, the entire underground world of Xiaocheng was bound for a seismic shift.
Furthermore, by telling Li Biao to leave with him, Ye Ning was publicly establishing Li Biao as his right-hand man.
Yet, right now, Huang Tanlang didn't even dare to call out to Ye Ning, terrified that the man might casually snuff him out on a whim.
"Let's go."
Although anxious on the inside, Huang Tanlang kept his composure on the surface.
He signaled his subordinates and cleared out as well.
The rest of the guests scattered in a rush. With Lord Fourth Chen dead, the underground world of Xiaocheng was changing hands.
Who would dare linger? If that terrifying man mistook them for Chen Hong's accomplices, they would be in deep trouble.
Someone who could snap Lord Fourth Chen's neck as casually as crushing a stray dog could wipe out most of their families with a single thought.
Inside the car, Han Ziyan asked with a trace of worry, "Ye Ning, you killed so many people—won't you be in trouble?"
Only after calming down did Han Ziyan think of this consequence.
She was quite anxious, especially since Ye Ning had committed murder out in the open.
Even if Lord Fourth Chen belonged to the underground world, the authorities would still hold Ye Ning accountable.
More often than not, the official authorities spared no effort in protecting the rights of bad actors.
Ye Ning shook his head and said, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Matters concerning Ancient Martial Artists were naturally handled by specialized organizations.
Regular police officers wouldn't pose any trouble for him.
His Grandmaster had told him as much; besides, once one's strength reached a certain realm, they stood above the rules entirely.
"In the bloodshed of the underground world, the regular police stations generally don't interfere. They're more than happy to watch us tear each other apart. As long as we don't cause a colossal uproar, even if we all wipe each other out, they won't lift a finger," Li Biao chimed in.
He was riding in the same car with the couple, while his own vehicle followed closely behind, driven by one of his underlings.
Li Biao knew very well that by having him tag along, Ye Ning undoubtedly had something important to discuss with him.
Hearing that, Han Ziyan finally let out a sigh of relief.
Deep down, she also guessed that Ye Ning must have had a reason for keeping Li Biao around.
"Li Biao, do you have what it takes to swallow up Lord Fourth Chen's territory?" Ye Ning asked.
A spark ignited in Li Biao's chest. With a surge of excitement, he replied, "If nobody interferes, I have the strength to take it all and absorb over half of Lord Fourth Chen's men. My only concern is interference."
"From whom?" Ye Ning asked.
"Huang Tanlang. He used to be the second-in-command of Xiaocheng's underground world, and now he's effectively the first. I've only ever ranked third," Li Biao answered honestly.
"If he dares to make a move, let me know. I'll go find him. If he's smart, he'll know what to do," Ye Ning said indifferently.
Looking a bit troubled, Han Ziyan said, "You want to meddle in the underground world? You really shouldn't. The underground world has never been a clean place—once you step in, it's almost impossible to ever get out."
"Miss Han is right. It really is that way," Li Biao sighed.
He had already made enough money and actually wanted to wash his hands of the underground world, but he knew even better that once he tried to leave, a tragic end awaited him.
Once you enter the martial world, your life is no longer your own. Very few people manage to meet a peaceful end.
Ye Ning gave a faint smile and said, "I've never taken the underground world seriously. In the eyes of true powerhouses, this so-called underground world is nothing more than children playing house. The real cruelty lies in our world."
*The Ancient Martial Artist circle, you mean?*
Both of them wore looks of surprise.
They were ordinary people, after all, and lacked any real understanding of the Ancient Martial circle.
"I couldn't care less about underground turf wars, nor do I enjoy bullying people. I simply want someone in control of Xiaocheng's underground world so that your company can operate in peace," Ye Ning stated his true purpose.
Li Biao was the only person he knew in the underworld, and coupled with the fact that Li Biao had stood by him during such a dangerous moment, Ye Ning held a fair amount of appreciation for him.
He was loyal, and possessed some decent martial skills to boot—which was why Ye Ning chose him.
Han Ziyan hadn't expected Ye Ning to get involved in the underground world purely for her sake.
Deeply touched, she said, "Ye Ning, thank you. You've been so good to me."
"Treating my own wife well is only right and proper. What's there to get emotional about?" Ye Ning said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Han Ziyan bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with emotion, her cheeks flushed with a faint redness as her heart fluttered.
Seeing her like this, Ye Ning gave a light cough and turned to Li Biao in the passenger seat. "Alright, you can go handle your business now. If that Huang Tanlang character dares to go against you, let me know directly, and I'll go wipe him out."
Knowing when to take a hint, Li Biao immediately got out of the car.
Excitement surged through him. He was about to become the supreme ruler of Xiaocheng's underground world! From this day forward, he would reign as the absolute king of the shadows in this city.
His decision to follow Ye Ning had undeniably been the right one.
Since Ye Ning looked down on the underworld, he was bound to need a representative.
And that representative could be him. In the future, becoming the underground king of the entire province, or even multiple provinces, was merely a matter of time.
Climbing back into his own car, he was filled with boundless ambition.
"Call all the brothers back! From this moment on, the underground world of Xiaocheng belongs to us!"
Li Biao's subordinates were stirred into a frenzy. Having vaguely guessed what had happened, they erupted in cheers upon receiving Li Biao's confirmation.
Meanwhile, Ye Ning and Han Ziyan parked their car by a secluded roadside, and soon enough, the vehicle began to rock gently.
By the time things finally settled down, it was already the dead of night.
Looking up at the silver moon hanging high in the sky, a sense of supreme contentment filled Ye Ning's heart.
***
Over at the Lin Family residence, Su Qingqing's face was dark with fury as she pointed a finger right at Lin Xue's nose and chewed her out.
Lin Xue curled up on the sofa, looking utterly depressed.
Seeing her like this only made Su Qingqing even angrier. She huffed impatiently, "Are you out of your mind or what? Your own man goes off to find another woman, and you actually drove him there yourself! You didn't even urge him to come back this late. If Ye Ning really gets stolen away by that Han Ziyan, I tell you, you won't even have a place to cry!"
"Cousin, how come you seem way more agitated than I am? Do you like Ye Ning or something?" Lin Xue asked cautiously.
It was as if someone had stepped on Su Qingqing's tail; she practically exploded on the spot. Raising her voice, she snapped, "I'm worried sick on your behalf! What does it have to do with me? Even if Ye Ning's character leaves a lot to be desired, he's Master Yinlong! If Han Ziyan snatches him away, you'll be kicking yourself!"
"I just don't want to see you get wronged! How could I possibly like a brat like Ye Ning?"
Her face flushed a deep crimson, whether from anger or embarrassment was anyone's guess.
Lin Xue chuckled softly and threw her arms around Su Qingqing. "Oh, come on, Cousin, don't get so worked up. A guy like Ye Ning was always a heartbreaker to begin with; trying to put a leash on him is impossible."
"And you just handed him over to someone else?!" Su Qingqing grew even more infuriated.
With a confident smile, Lin Xue replied, "It's fine. There are two of us here, right? I refuse to believe that if we sisters join forces, we can't keep Ye Ning."
Panicking slightly, Su Qingqing blurted out, "What nonsense are you spouting? Who wants to join forces with you?"
"Cousin, didn't you say you wanted to marry Master Yinlong? Well, Ye Ning is Master Yinlong. Don't tell me you don't want to marry him now?" Lin Xue stared at Su Qingqing with a teasing, knowing smile.
Su Qingqing let out a cold snort and put on an act of feigned anger. "Hmph! That was before I knew Ye Ning was Master Yinlong. If I had known, I never would've said something like that."
Looking utterly annoyed and deeply displeased, she muttered, "He completely ruined the image of Master Yinlong in my heart. Who would've thought Master Yinlong would turn out to be some punk kid?"
"That's called being a teenage genius. Not only is he great at painting, but his medical skills are top-notch, and his martial arts are incredible. You couldn't find a man like him even if you searched with a lantern," Lin Xue said, holding Ye Ning in high regard.
Suspicion dripping from her voice, Su Qingqing asked, "If he's so great, why did you let him go see Han Ziyan?"
"Who can ever put a leash on a true dragon? Ye Ning is a true dragon—nobody can tie him down. Trying to force a leash on him would only backfire," Lin Xue said softly, her gaze drifting into the distance.
Su Qingqing's eyes lit up slightly. Staring at Lin Xue, she asked in surprise, "So you didn't not care after all—you've had a plan all along."
"Being with him is something you're bound to just have to endure. Cousin, are you ready for that?" Lin Xue challenged, locking eyes with her.
Su Qingqing rolled her eyes and snapped, "There you go again. Whatever, I'm ignoring you."
With that, she turned on her heel and headed upstairs, though her cheeks remained flushed red.
Once Su Qingqing walked away, Lin Xue's expression drifted as well. *Was Ye Ning really not planning to come back tonight?*
She stayed sitting right there in the living room, waiting until one o'clock in the morning, until she curled up and fell asleep on the sofa.
When Ye Ning finally returned, he spotted the curled-up figure of Lin Xue, her body trembling slightly from the chill.
Frowning slightly, he thought: *Was she really waiting up for me?*
A soft look flashed across Ye Ning's face. He walked over, scooped Lin Xue up gently in his arms, and carried her into her bedroom.
Tucking her in under the blanket, Ye Ning quietly opened the door and stepped out.
Having run himself ragged all day, even an iron-willed body like his felt a touch of exhaustion.
Yawning as he stepped out of the room, he instinctively pushed open the door to the adjacent guest room and slipped straight under the covers.
A warm, fragrant body immediately wrapped around him. Still half-asleep and dead to the world, Ye Ning instinctively pulled her close, his hand automatically cupping a soft, protruding curve.
Early the next morning, a shrieking scream tore through the air.
A second later, the door to Su Qingqing's bedroom flew open.
Ye Ning rubbed his eyes, staring with an innocent expression at the two utterly dumbfounded women standing before him.
"Ye Ning, why are you in my cousin's bed again?!" Lin Xue asked in absolute shock.
Su Qingqing looked even more furious, glaring daggers at Ye Ning.
She had actually spent another entire night sleeping soundly in Ye Ning's arms!
"Ye Ning, you better give me an explanation right now!" Su Qingqing demanded angrily, completely losing her mind.
With a matter-of-fact shrug, Ye Ning replied, "You're my woman. We already settled this beforehand—what's wrong with me sleeping in your bed?"
Su Qingqing was struck dumb. When on earth had she ever agreed to anything like that with Ye Ning?!