This woman had the audacity to doubt just now whether he could afford to support many wives, so now was the time to prove his strength.
Thinking of this, Ye Ning said, "Very well, I agree. Come to the Lin Family tomorrow morning to pick up the painting."
Tan Qingshan showed a look of wild joy, almost unable to believe it. Seeing Ye Ning nod, he exclaimed ecstatically, "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"
He took a checkbook out of his bag, scribbled a few lines, and handed it over.
"This is a check for one hundred million. You can cash it at any bank," Tan Qingshan said respectfully.
Ye Ning took it and casually handed it to Su Qingqing.
"Hold this."
Su Qingqing was slightly stunned and did not take it.
That was one hundred million! What on earth did this guy mean?
"It's for you. The reason I agreed to paint for this old man was to prove to you that making money is the easiest thing in the world. No matter how many wives I take, I can afford to support all of you," Ye Ning said calmly.
Su Qingqing looked at Ye Ning with a strange glint in her eyes. This man really was something else.
Even Jiang Tao, when pursuing her, would never casually fork out one hundred million.
Seeing that Su Qingqing refused to take it, Ye Ning said with dissatisfaction, "If you don't take it right now, I'll tear it up."
Seeing that Ye Ning was actually going to rip up the check, Su Qingqing quickly grabbed it. She gave him a sidelong glance and solemnly tucked the check into her small handbag.
At that moment, Ye Ning glanced at Tan Qingshan and asked in surprise, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"
Tan Qingshan smiled wryly and hurriedly took his leave.
"Is your painting really worth that much?" Su Qingqing asked curiously.
"Perhaps," Ye Ning nodded, not seeming to care much.
Seeing that Ye Ning had no desire to elaborate, Su Qingqing did not ask further. Thinking of the one-hundred-million-dollar check resting in her bag, a glimmer of curiosity toward Ye Ning welled up inside her.
What kind of man was he, anyway? He possessed astonishing medical skills, and his painting was equally exceptional. What other hidden talents did he have?
Oh right, Ye Ning's combat skills were also quite remarkable.
Just a moment ago, those two henchmen of Jiang Tao's had been sent flying with a single slap.
A truly mysterious man.
As she cast a measuring gaze at Ye Ning, Su Qingqing found herself increasingly unable to see through him.
It was like peering through layers of thick fog—always impossible to pierce.
After finishing dinner, Su Qingqing went to settle the bill, only to be told at the counter that it had already been paid.
Clearly, Tan Qingshan must have paid the tab.
Since he had already spent one hundred million, a few hundred bucks for dinner naturally posed no problem at all.
When the two of them walked out of Elite Plaza, it was already nine o'clock.
Pedestrians on the street were starting to thin out as many headed home to rest, given that most people had to work the next day.
They had not walked far when they were blocked by someone.
A man in his early forties, leading a group of twenty-odd thugs, barred Ye Ning's path.
They were all armed with weapons and wore malicious expressions.
"What do you people want?"
Su Qingqing asked coldly, her expression hostile.
The man chuckled and said, "Miss, this has nothing to do with you. That little punk offended someone he shouldn't have, and someone paid a million to have me cripple him."
"I'll give you two million. Clear out right now," Su Qingqing said.
Brother Biao was slightly taken aback; this woman certainly had money.
He shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, but I gave my word to someone else first. I can't break the code of the streets."
With that, Brother Biao grinned craftily. "Of course, if you want me to go back on my word, it's not impossible. You just have to pay more."
"Four million."
Su Qingqing said.
Brother Biao was tempted. Between four million and one million, even a fool knew which one to choose.
More importantly, the million from Jiang Tao came with the task of crippling someone, which might invite trouble.
Whereas the four million offered by this young woman only required him to drop the fight.
The code of the streets?
What even was that?
Right at that moment, Brother Biao's phone rang, and he answered it.
Jiang Tao's voice came through the speaker: "I'll give you five million. Don't hesitate anymore, just cripple that bastard for me!"
Hanging up the phone, Brother Biao offered an apologetic smile. "Miss, I'm sorry. It looks like I can't accept your offer after all."
Su Qingqing's face turned somewhat pale, and she raised her voice, "Don't do anything reckless! I've already called the police."
Hearing Su Qingqing's words, Brother Biao burst out laughing. If men like them feared the police, they wouldn't be roaming the streets.
A single job netted five million; at worst, he'd just have one of his brothers take the fall and do a few years inside.
Without further nonsense, Brother Biao commanded, "Do it."
Ye Ning stepped forward and pulled Su Qingqing behind him, preparing to take action.
Among this mob, only Brother Biao possessed any real strength, but he still fell short of a martial artist, let alone the rest of them, who posed absolutely no threat whatsoever.
"Unfilial wretch, stop right there!"
At that exact moment, a voice quite familiar to Ye Ning rang out.
Brother Biao's expression shifted slightly. His previous overbearing swagger vanished instantly, and a fawning smile quickly spread across his face.
A frail old woman rushed over, and amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, she delivered a sharp slap across Brother Biao's face.
Slap!
The old woman's movement was not fast; Brother Biao could easily have dodged it.
Yet, he stood rooted to the spot without making a single move, letting the blow land squarely on his cheek.
Not only that, Brother Biao even asked with concern, "Mom, don't hit too hard, watch out for your hand."
Brother Biao's underlings also shrank their necks in fear.
They had already recognized the old woman's identity and never expected to run into her here.
Ye Ning was somewhat surprised. He also recognized the old woman—she was none other than the one he had treated earlier in the day.
What a coincidence to bump into her again in a place like this.
The old woman was lugging a snakeskin sack stuffed to the brim with empty plastic bottles and cardboard boxes.
Glaring angrily at Brother Biao, the old woman chided furiously, "You beast! You actually wanted to bully my savior? Are you trying to piss me off and kill me?"
"Your savior?" Brother Biao asked, baffled.
He knew nothing of what had happened during the day and was utterly confused.
"I had a seizure today and almost died! It was this young gentleman who stepped in and saved my life. On top of that, my benefactor even gave me twenty thousand yuan! And you actually dared to raise a hand against him? I should never have birthed you in the first place!" the old woman raged.
This fellow called Brother Biao turned out to be the old woman's son.
Brother Biao immediately asked anxiously, "Mom, with something this big happening, why didn't you tell me?"
The old woman sneered, "You were too busy running around hacking people up; when would I ever dare to bother you?"
Brother Biao smiled bitterly, unable to utter a word in the face of his mother's displeasure.
"Benefactor, don't you worry. With me here, he won't dare pull anything. If he dares to harm you, this old lady will fight him to the death!" the old woman told Ye Ning.
Su Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Ye Ning with a newfound glint of wonder in her eyes.
To think this guy had such a kind heart—not only saving someone, but also giving them twenty thousand yuan.
That was something most people would find hard to do.
Su Qingqing's feelings toward Ye Ning grew increasingly favorable.
Ye Ning smiled faintly. The old woman might have looked like she was protecting him, but in reality, she was saving her own son.
Even if these mongrels stood their ground without moving a muscle, Ye Ning could have easily wiped the floor with them.
"Mom, how was I supposed to know? Besides, this isn't my fault—it's all the fault of that bastard Jiang Tao!" Brother Biao said angrily.
Even without his mother's intervention, knowing that Ye Ning was his mother's savior, Brother Biao would never have laid a finger on him.
With that, Brother Biao turned and said, "Benefactor, please wait a moment. I'll go teach that bastard a lesson first, and then I'll invite you to dinner to offer my apologies. Since you saved my mother's life, you saved mine as well. If you need anything in the future, just give the word."
"That sounds like human speech for once," the old woman remarked with a satisfied expression.
Though this son of hers often did things that deeply displeased her—acting unreliably and committing all sorts of wicked deeds—his filial piety toward her was truly beyond reproach.
Brother Biao led his men toward Jiang Tao, causing the latter's expression to shift dramatically.
Though Jiang Tao had no idea what had just transpired, the sight of Brother Biao striding over with such murderous intent told him it was spells trouble.
Thinking fast, Jiang Tao turned on his heel and ran.
However, he was a step too late and was quickly run down by Brother Biao.
A swarm of men surrounded Jiang Tao and his two bodyguards, scaring them so badly their faces turned white.
"Brother Biao, what is the meaning of this?" Jiang Tao asked nervously.
Brother Biao said coldly, "Damn it, you almost caused me to hurt my mother's savior and made me an unfilial son! How could I possibly spare you? Boys, teach him a good lesson!"
"No! I'll give you money! Don't touch me, I'll give you five million!" Jiang Tao screamed.
"Beat him."
Brother Biao didn't hesitate for a second, not even blinking an eye.
He loved money, but some money he simply disdained to take.
Jiang Tao and his two bodyguards were subjected to a ferocious beating.
Whenever they tried to fight back, they only ended up getting hit even harder.
Seeing Brother Biao and his men laying into them, Su Qingqing couldn't help reminding the old woman, "Aunty, your son is hitting people again."
The old woman was a kind-hearted soul who understood gratitude, and nothing distressed her more than seeing her son resort to violence.
Yet this time, she simply said, "It's fine. He's beating bad people, so it counts as doing a good deed."
Clearly, Jiang Tao and his cohorts had already been categorized as bad guys.
The old woman's logic was very simple: Ye Ning was a good person, therefore anyone against Ye Ning was a bad person.
Her son wasn't allowed to beat good people, but beating bad ones was totally fine.
Soon, Brother Biao returned while Jiang Tao and his crew lay on the ground, wailing in agony.
He couldn't actually cripple Jiang Tao, of course—a sound thrashing would have to suffice.
Seeing Brother Biao come back, the old woman let out a cold snort. "You treat my benefactor well and don't you dare slack off! I'm tired, so I'm heading home to rest."
With that, the old woman hoisted her snakeskin sack onto a tricycle, pedaled laboriously, and departed.
Seeing his mother leave, Li Biao finally let out a breath.
He cast his gaze toward Ye Ning, a warm, amiable smile spreading across his face.
"Mister, my name is Li Biao, and I have a bit of a reputation around Small City. You saved my mom, which makes you my benefactor. If you run into any trouble in the future, come find me."
With a trace of pride, Li Biao added, "I might not have many other skills, but I'm quite decent at fighting."
"Is that so?" Ye Ning smiled faintly.
He stamped his foot hard against the ground and then lifted it.
To Li Biao and his men's utter horror, a deep footprint was left embedded in the concrete floor.
They gasped sharply, their eyes changing as they stared at Ye Ning.
If that kick had landed on any of their bodies, would they even be alive right now?
"You should thank your mother. She didn't save me—she saved you," Ye Ning said.
Had the old woman not appeared out of nowhere, the ones currently lying flat on the ground would undoubtedly have been Li Biao and his men.
Cold sweat beaded on Li Biao's forehead, leaving him with nothing but infinite gratitude toward his old mother.
"Since you're so wealthy, why is your mother malnourished?" Ye Ning asked abruptly.
This Li Biao didn't look like an unfilial sort.
Li Biao smiled bitterly. "My mom thinks my money is tainted. Every time I give her cash, she donates it all to charity. She supports herself by scavenging junk just to make enough for a meal."
Admiration dawned on Su Qingqing's face as she sighed, "Aunty is truly a wonderful person."
"Mister, regardless of everything else, thank you for saving my mother. Tonight, I'm hosting a dinner to treat you—"
"No need."
Ye Ning flatly rejected the offer.
Afterward, he signaled for Su Qingqing to leave with him.
Seeing that Ye Ning refused to give him even the slightest bit of face, Li Biao could only sigh helplessly and watch him depart.
"Boss, that kid is terrifying. That footprint alone gave me the creeps—is that even something a human being can do?" one of Li Biao's subordinates marveled.
Glancing at the indentation in the concrete, Li Biao shuddered.
"From now on, nobody is allowed to cross him. Whoever dares provoke him can jump into the Grand Canal and drown themselves," Li Biao barked.
"Understood."
Everyone nodded in deep agreement.
Even without Li Biao's warning, none of them would ever dare mess with Ye Ning.
Meanwhile, Jiang Tao and his two henchmen had already limped away.
His eyes bloodshot, Jiang Tao hated Li Biao to the core.
"I won't let you get away with this! And that punk Li Biao—how dare you hit me? This young master is going to make you pay dearly!"
Jiang Tao gritted his teeth in fury.
"That's right, Young Master. We've never suffered such a huge loss before; we absolutely cannot let them off," the two bodyguards chimed in.
"Get lost, you two useless trash! What use are you if you can't even beat anyone?" Jiang Tao berated them.
The two guards instantly hung their heads in shame.
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Tao's eyes as he sneered, "Since Su Qingqing is so heartless, don't blame me for being unrighteous. There's always someone who can deal with them."
With that, Jiang Tao took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Young Master Wang, didn't you say you like pretty women? I've got one here, though she's a bit tricky."
"I love tricky women the most. I'll head over tomorrow."
Hanging up, Jiang Tao let out a cold laugh.
What he couldn't have, he would rather destroy than let anyone else enjoy.
With Young Master Wang's perverted methods, once Su Qingqing fell into his hands, she would definitely come to a miserable end.
"Su Qingqing, don't blame me."
Jiang Tao's expression turned ferocious.
The two bodyguards exchanged glances and shivered involuntarily.
Their young master's temperament inspired a deep-seated dread in them. The mindset of "if I can't have it, I'll destroy it" was simply too tyrannical, leaving anyone by his side constantly on edge.
Inside the car, Su Qingqing wore a complex expression, her lips parting as if she had something to say.
"If you want to ask something, just ask. You're my woman, I've already put my stamp on you; I won't keep secrets from my own woman," Ye Ning said as a matter of course.
Su Qingqing shot him a sidelong glance, entirely unimpressed by his remark.
Curiosity getting the better of her, she asked, "Just what kind of person are you? Your medical skills are top-notch, your martial arts are formidable, and even your painting is astonishingly good. How could someone like you remain an unknown? Given your personality, you should have made a name for yourself across Jiuzhou long ago."
Ye Ning's domineering personality and even more domineering ways, combined with such extraordinary skills without an ounce of fame, made no sense at all.
"I've always lived up in the mountains with my three masters, occasionally coming down to treat people, while spending the rest of the time training. Naturally, outsiders wouldn't know me," Ye Ning explained.
"All these skills of yours were taught by your three masters?" Su Qingqing continued inquiring.
Ye Ning nodded firmly.
"My First Master, Luo Wu, has divine martial prowess and is known as the Slaughter God. My Second Master, the peerless medical immortal Su Qingcheng, possesses medical skills capable of bringing the dead back to life, turning flesh into bones, and reversing Yin and Yang. My Third Master is Qin Luyao, who excels in everything from zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting to arcane divination. They've taught me all their skills."
Hearing this, Su Qingqing fell into a daze.
Could such three extraordinary women actually exist in this world? She had never even heard of them.
"Your three elders must have taught you very meticulously, otherwise you wouldn't be this formidable. I really envy you for having three such amazing masters," Su Qingqing sighed.
"Elders?" Ye Ning's expression turned slightly odd.
"Is something wrong with that?" Su Qingqing asked.
Ye Ning boasted proudly, "Of course it's wrong! My three masters are as beautiful as flowers and look to be only around twenty. How could you possibly call them elders?"
"What?" Su Qingqing was stunned. "Just how old are they?"
Ye Ning shook his head in slight distress and said, "I don't know. I only remember that when I was three years old, they looked like that, and now they still look like that—not a single bit older."
Su Qingqing was filled with utter envy. Eternal youth was every girl's ultimate dream.
According to Ye Ning, the three women must have been at least forty or fifty years old, yet they still looked like young maidens in their twenties. Which woman wouldn't yearn for such timeless beauty?
"Can I be like that too?" Su Qingqing asked.
"Ageless? Simple. You're my wife, I certainly won't let you grow old," Ye Ning declared confidently.
Su Qingqing instantly felt a flutter in her heart.
If she could stay forever young, becoming Ye Ning's wife really wouldn't be such a bad deal after all.
***
Returning home, Su Qingqing beamed with smiles.
This left Lin Xue somewhat surprised; judging by her cousin's expression, she was clearly in a fantastic mood.
"Cousin, what's got you so happy?" Lin Xue asked curiously.
"Look at this." Su Qingqing pulled out the check.
One hundred million?
Lin Xue wore a look of utter shock.
"Did you sell yourself? No, wait even if you sold yourself, you wouldn't be worth that much," Lin Xue gasped in disbelief.
Thud.
Su Qingqing tapped Lin Xue on the head, causing her to double over while clutching her crown.
"You brat, always talking nonsense! How could your cousin sell herself for one hundred million? Ye Ning gave this to me." Su Qingqing said.
Lin Xue glanced at Ye Ning. He could casually pull out one hundred million for her cousin?
You gotta be kidding me!
As far as she remembered, just yesterday Ye Ning couldn't even afford a decent meal; where on earth would he get one hundred million?
"Tan Qingshan gave it to him. Strange as it sounds, he gave Ye Ning one hundred million just to buy a single painting." Su Qingqing was still in disbelief.
While Lin Xue had been feeling puzzled, hearing Su Qingqing's words made everything click instantly.
"That makes sense then," Lin Xue smiled.
"Why? Is Ye Ning's painting really that famous?" Su Qingqing asked curiously.
Instead of answering, Lin Xue countered, "Who is your favorite painter?"
"Of course it's Master Hidden Dragon. His paintings represent the absolute peak of our era; even some ancient masters might not surpass him," Su Qingqing replied without hesitation.
With that, she declared with a face full of adoration, "To be honest, I have no idea whether Master Hidden Dragon is a man or a woman. If he turns out to be a man, even if he's seventy or eighty years old, I'd still be willing to marry him. If I could marry a man like that, this lifetime would be complete."