Ye Huan resolutely rejected Lin Tai's proposal.
Lin Tai gave Ye Huan a deep look, mistakenly thinking that Ye Huan's reluctance to live at Lin Xi's house was due to a fear of being harassed by Lin Canglan and Li Meiya. He therefore suggested:
"Then why don't you have Xixi move in with you? Look at how old I am, I'm dying to hold a great-grandchild. The two of you should put in some effort—ideally, you can have a shotgun wedding."
Lin Xi blushed fiercely: "Grandpa, what are you talking about?"
"Hahahahaha..."
Lin Tai burst into laughter, stood up, and said:
"Alright, Ye Huan has been on a plane for so long, head back early to rest. I should be getting back too."
"Okay!"
The group left the Shangyang Restaurant. After Ye Huan and Lin Xi watched the cars carrying Lin Tai, Lin Canglan, and Li Meiya drive away, Ye Huan spoke up:
"Look how impatient your grandfather is to hold a great-grandchild. Why don't you come home with me right now and we can work overtime? My childhood nickname is Ye Eleven, and my 108 forms of the 'Yin-Yang Convergence Grand Technique' have long since reached mastery and perfection. I guarantee we'll plant the seed today, and next month your period won't even show up, leaving your grandpa so happy he won't be able to close his—ah, spit that out, I mean his mouth..."
Lin Xi looked at Ye Huan as if he were a complete idiot and said coldly:
"Ye Huan, are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten that we aren't a real couple, but are in a contractual marriage? As for the purpose of our marriage contract, you know it better than anyone."
"You can have kids in a contractual marriage too!" Ye Huan said with a straight face.
"Heh..."
Lin Xi sneered and said:
"Go home and sleep. In your dreams, you can have as many kids as you want, and have them with whoever you want."
With that, she got into the car.
Ye Huan curled his lips and was just about to walk over to the passenger side when Lin Xi stepped on the gas and sped away.
Ye Huan: "???"
What the hell, you took off, so what am I supposed to do?
Besides, didn't Lin Tai say you were supposed to move into my place?
"It's truly incredible. There are actually people in this world who can make the legendary Underworld King bite the dust. I'm afraid nobody would believe it if I told them."
At that moment, a cold voice rang out.
Hearing this, Ye Huan looked over and saw a girl walking toward him wearing a duckbill cap, a face mask, casual clothes, and white shoes.
"To think that Hongluan, one of Huaxia's magnificent Eight Nation-Protecting War Gods, has actually resorted to stalking people. I suppose nobody would believe that if it were told, either," Ye Huan retorted.
Hongluan did not retort. She removed her duckbill cap and mask, walked right up to Ye Huan, looked straight into his eyes, and asked:
"What are you doing in Pengcheng?"
"Don't you welcome me?"
Ye Huan asked with a smile, taking the opportunity to look Hongluan up and down.
Hongluan was very beautiful, with brisk short hair, snow-white skin, delicate facial features, and a height of one meter seventy-five. Combined with her sharp and capable temperament, her beauty was exceptionally striking and full of personality.
"You are the Underworld King, the Butcher, the Fiend in Human Form, the Creator of Death and Terror, and the most terrifying dangerous criminal on the planet. No country in the world welcomes you," Hongluan said bluntly.
"Are you trying to drive me out of Pengcheng, out of Huaxia?" Ye Huan asked.
*Yes...* Hongluan thought to herself, though she didn't dare say it aloud. Fearing that speaking the truth would enrage the Underworld King, she asked instead:
"How long do you plan to stay in Pengcheng?"
"I am a Huaxia citizen, and my household registration is in Pengcheng. This time I've returned to Pengcheng to marry a wife, and in the future, I'm afraid I'll be settling down here!" Ye Huan said.
*Settling down in Pengcheng?*
Hongluan panicked. The Underworld King settling down in Pengcheng was equivalent to planting a super atomic bomb ready to detonate at any moment right in the city!
"Your worries are entirely unnecessary. No matter where I wreak havoc, I would never wreak havoc in my own motherland!"
Ye Huan patted Hongluan's shoulder to reassure her, saying:
"Let's go, take me home."
Hongluan was stunned: "Your home? Where is it?"
"Qinwan Bay!" Ye Huan said.
A profound shock coursed through Hongluan's heart. She had no idea the Underworld King owned property in Pengcheng's Qinwan Bay.
Meanwhile, after driving the car into a blind spot outside Ye Huan's line of sight, Lin Xi pulled over. She wanted to see how Ye Huan would leave, and that was when she caught sight of Hongluan.
Of course, because the distance was too great, Lin Xi couldn't see Hongluan's face clearly, but once Hongluan took off her cap and mask, her fair skin and distinctive temperament were still faintly visible to Lin Xi.
"Bitch, scumbag! He actually has a lover even in Pengcheng!"
Furious, Lin Xi took out her phone and made a call:
"Help me check someone. His name is Ye Huan—'Ye' as in withered leaves, 'Huan' as in a dog bounding around eating shit. The home address on his ID card and household registration book is the Pengcheng Orphanage..."
***
Qinwan Bay Villa District!
In the bathroom of a luxury villa, Yaoji was taking a bath.
"If the Underworld King gets a marriage certificate with that woman, what am I supposed to do? Be his mistress? Or the Underworld King's favored concubine?"
Yaoji simply couldn't figure it out!
As a super war god ranked 35th on the Global War God List and a top assassin ranked 8th on the Assassin List;
She had looks when she wanted looks;
She had a figure when she wanted a figure;
And most importantly, she was seductive!
Why on earth would the Underworld King choose that mediocre-looking, average-figured woman with no taste in clothes and a terrible temper instead of her?
"I'll be the Underworld King's favored concubine first, and wait for a chance to squeeze out the official wife and take her place. Yes, that's what I'll do!"
After her bath, Yaoji put on a white bathrobe, came out to the living room on the first floor, and sat on the sofa pondering over and over again, finally formulating her life plan for the second half of her life: she would become the Underworld King's queen!
At this thought, Yaoji's mood suddenly brightened, and she shouted:
"Chef, is my meal ready yet? I'm starving!"
No one replied!
"Oh ho, so you're not going to treat the butler like a boss, are you?"
Fuming, Yaoji ran into the kitchen. It was completely empty. She searched the entire villa from top to bottom and couldn't find a single person, finally locating the chef outside the courtyard gates.
Along with the butler, the gardener, the maid, and the driver.
The five of them were standing at strict attention right by the courtyard entrance.
"What are you all doing out here?" Yaoji demanded.
Nobody answered her!
This really made Yaoji furious: "I'm talking to you! Have your ears been stuffed with donkey fur?"
Her imperfect Huaxia speech made what should have been an angry outburst sound rather comical.
Yet the butler, the chef, the gardener, the maid, and the driver continued to ignore Yaoji.
They didn't even cast a single glance her way.
"Fine, so you have thick skulls and refuse to treat me, the butler, as your leader, right? Just wait. When that Un—when Ye Huan gets back, I'll let you see just how much power a butler has in this household. I'll have the lot of you fired," Yaoji fumed angrily.
The five of them still didn't pay her any mind!
Yaoji: "......"
Right at that moment, a long motorcade drove up, and a group of people in suits and leather shoes stepped out. There were men and women, young and old, with yellow, white, and black skin.
These people quickly assembled outside the gates of Ye Huan's house, forming a neat square formation.
"Who are you people? What are you doing here?"
Yaoji asked.
She felt like these people had something wrong with their brains. It was the scorching heat of summer, yet they were all dressed in suits and leather shoes—weren't they afraid of dying from the heat?
"Yaoji?"
The bald, chubby man in the lead caught sight of Yaoji, paused for a moment, and then broke into a smile resembling Maitreya Buddha, saying:
"The Underworld King is truly the Underworld King—he's even taken Yaoji under his command."
Yaoji was taken aback. This short, chubby man actually recognized her and pointed out on the spot that she had defected to the Underworld King.
It seemed these people were no ordinary underworld thugs; they were figures from the martial world, and extraordinary ones at that.
"Who are you? What kind of people are you?" Yaoji asked again.
"You are not qualified to know who I am, nor are you qualified to know who we are!"
A warm smile hung on the bald fat man's face, but his demeanor was incomparably arrogant, and the words he spoke were wildly audacious.
"Oh, my explosive temper!"
Enraged, Yaoji pointed at the bald fat man and cursed:
"You dead fat man, you clearly know who I am, yet you still dare talk to me like this! Have you got a death wish?"
*Courting death!*
The insult "dead fat man" instantly wiped the smile off the bald man's face, and a massive wave of killing intent surged outward.
Simultaneously, everyone behind the bald fat man released their killing intent, instantly sweeping over and enveloping Yaoji.
In a split second, Yaoji felt as though she had plunged into an ice cellar. Even though it was the scorching heat of summer, a chill ran through her.
"You should consider yourself lucky that you defected to the Underworld King. Otherwise, for those words you just uttered, you'd already be a corpse right now!"
The bald fat man said with bone-chilling murderous intent.
"Is that so? I'd like to see just how capable you really are to dare utter such arrogant words!"
Provoked by the dense killing intent and the bald fat man's words, Yaoji flashed forward, appearing directly in front of him, and drove her fist straight toward his face.
"Overestimating your own capabilities!"
The bald fat man met her punch with a single palm strike.
The moment they connected, Yaoji felt as though her fist had smashed into a speeding train. An immensely terrifying force instantly crushed her fist's momentum, transmitting through her arm and straight into her whole body, forcing her to stumble back seven or eight steps before she finally regained her footing!
"So strong!"
Yaoji gasped in shock.
Although she hadn't used her full strength with that punch, she could tell that the bald fat man hadn't used his full strength either.
If they were to engage in a real, life-or-death battle, she had no confidence she could defeat him!
That was terrifying!
She knew every single one of the top 35 war gods on the Global War God List, and this bald fat man was definitely not among them.
Yet he possessed the strength of a top 35 war god.
"Come with me inside to see the Underworld King!"
Dizang paid Yaoji no more mind and spoke to the dozen or so people behind him.
With that, he walked straight toward the courtyard gate of Ye Huan's house, followed closely by his subordinates.
Right at that moment!
The butler, the chef, the gardener, the maid, and the driver stepped forward to block the courtyard entrance!
"Without the master's permission, no one is allowed to enter!" the butler said expressionlessly.
"Step aside," Dizang said calmly.
The five of them stood completely motionless!
A cold look crossed Dizang's face: "Step aside, or die!"
Still, the five of them remained completely motionless!
"Courting death!"
Dizang struck out in anger, sending a palm crashing toward the butler.
Seeing this, Yaoji's expression changed drastically, and she cried out in alarm: "Dodge!"
In her estimation, even she might not be a match for Dizang; if the butler—a mere ordinary person—took a direct hit from Dizang's palm, they would surely die!
However, the butler did not dodge, nor was there the slightest trace of fear on her face. Facing Dizang's incoming strike, she returned the blow with a palm of her own.
*Bang!*
The two palms collided, producing a dull, heavy impact sound!
"Thud, thud, thud, thud..."
Dizang's body shook violently. His chubby frame staggered backward step by step, leaving a one-centimeter-deep footprint in the ground with every step, until he had retreated a full five steps before stopping.
"So strong!"
Dizang gasped in exclamation.
Everyone behind him also wore expressions of utter shock.
They were all well aware of Dizang's strength; even if he hadn't used his full power with that palm, he shouldn't have been forced back five full steps by his opponent.
This was more than enough to prove that the butler possessed immense strength!
"This..."
Yaoji stared dumbfounded at the butler, her mouth twitching uncontrollably.
She had always assumed the five of them were ordinary people working odd jobs at Ye Huan's house. She had even felt a sense of superiority around them earlier, and when the butler hadn't listened to her, she hadn't even bothered to resort to martial arts.
As it turned out, the butler was actually an expert!
And an expert no weaker than herself!
If that was the case, then the chef, the gardener, the maid, and the driver must not be ordinary people either!
*Oh my god!*
As expected of the Underworld King, keeping five such terrifying war gods to serve as a butler, chef, gardener, maid, and driver around the house.
That was simply too extravagant!
"Who are you?"
Dizang glared coldly at the butler and asked:
"With your level of skill, you are definitely no nobody. Even if I don't recognize you, I must have heard of your name. What is your name?"
***
The butler acted as if she hadn't heard Dizang's words. She gave no answer, said nothing, and didn't even look at his face.
This made Dizang feel immensely humiliated, and he raged:
"Giving you face and you don't want it! You're simply looking to die!"
As he spoke, he lunged forward, throwing another palm strike at the butler. This time, he used his full power—a furious, unreserved strike with all his might.
Seeing this, Yaoji's pretty face turned pale with shock, and she shouted loudly:
"Don't take it head-on!"
With Yaoji's combat experience, she could clearly gauge the terrifying power behind Dizang's palm strike.
At the same time, Yaoji realized she was definitely no match for Dizang; his strength was even greater than the rank 1 war god she had once challenged.
That was why she warned the butler not to block it. Although the butler had ignored her and didn't give her any face, they were all on the same side after all; she didn't want to see the butler injured by an outsider like Dizang.
"So uncultured and ignorant!"
The butler cast a disdainful look at Yaoji, and once again launched a palm strike.
*Bang!*
The collision of their palms erupted with a sound like a booming temple bell.
And then, Yaoji watched in utter astonishment as Dizang was sent stumbling back a dozen steps, crashing into the people behind him and causing them to retreat in a flurry.
"My god!"
Yaoji stared in shock at the butler, her eyes practically popping out of her skull.
The combat prowess of this nondescript butler was truly terrifying.
With this level of strength, she could easily snatch the crown of the number one war god on the War God List!
"You... you, you, you! How is this possible?"
After retreating a dozen steps and steadying himself, Dizang looked at the butler in sheer disbelief.
He simply couldn't fathom that besides the Underworld King, a second person stronger than him actually existed in this world.
And this person appeared to be merely a domestic servant in the Underworld King's household.
Everyone behind Dizang was equally terrified by the butler's strength. At that moment, their previous sense of superiority vanished completely into thin air.
They were actually no match even for the domestic help at the Underworld King's house!
"Step back ten steps, or die!" the butler said expressionlessly.
Dizang hurriedly led his people backward, pulling in all their arrogance and edge. They didn't dare put on airs anymore!
Right at that moment!
A Hummer drove up at high speed!
Ye Huan and Hongluan—who had put her duckbill cap and mask back on—stepped out of the vehicle!
"Greetings, Underworld King!"
Dizang and all the people in suits dropped to one knee in unison.
"Master!"
The five servants bowed respectfully.
Yaoji stood there with a bewildered look on her face. She had always thought Dizang and his gang were enemies of the Underworld King, here to stir up trouble and seek revenge.
Yet here they were, kneeling all over the ground. It seemed they were all here to pledge allegiance to the Underworld King!
"Who are these people?"
Hongluan was startled by the lineup before her. She remembered that the Underworld King was a lone-wolf butcher who possessed no faction of his own.
Who on earth were these suited guys in this sweltering heat?
Why were they kowtowing to the Underworld King?
"They are the upper echelons of Hell Gate!"
Ye Huan gave a casual, indifferent introduction.
*What?!*
Those five words—"upper echelons of Hell Gate"—almost scared the wits out of Hongluan and Yaoji!
They stared in absolute shock at the Hell Gate brass kneeling all over the ground, turbulent waves crashing in their hearts.
The most mysterious, powerful, and thousand-year-old evil organization in the global underworld, Hell Gate, had actually been subjugated by the Underworld King?
Yaoji's face flushed red with excitement, her heart raced, and her breathing grew ragged. The man she fancied truly had immense prestige.
Not only standing at the very pinnacle of the global pyramid, he had even brought an organization like Hell Gate to heel.
Too incredible!
Too awesome!
At that moment, Yaoji couldn't help thinking: forget about becoming the Underworld King's queen; even if she were just a minor concubine, it would still be the absolute peak of her life!
Compared to Yaoji!
Hongluan had far more thoughts running through her mind, and her internal shock was even greater!
The Underworld King alone was already enough to make countries worldwide and the global underworld wary, with no one daring to provoke him.
With an evil organization like Hell Gate in his grasp, the Underworld King could practically threaten every nation on Earth!
"You guys really have a knack for this!"
Ye Huan walked up to Dizang, kicked him flat onto his back, and said coldly:
"On my very first day out of prison and back in Pengcheng, you lot are already waiting here for me. It seems you have my whereabouts completely dialed in!"
Knocked flat on his back, Dizang not only didn't get angry, but he quickly scrambled back up, dropped straight to both knees, and prostrated himself before Ye Huan.
Seeing this, the other Hell Gate higher-ups who had been kneeling on one knee quickly dropped to both knees and prostrated themselves as well!
*Terror!*
Right now, they were terrified to their cores!
Secretly tracking the Underworld King's whereabouts was a capital offense;
And rushing into the Underworld King's home with such a grand spectacle without his permission might well have triggered his scale of wrath!
"Please calm your anger, Underworld King!"
Dizang slammed his forehead against the floor tiles, shattering them as he said in panic:
"We secretly investigated your whereabouts and came to your home with no malicious intent. We simply wish to invite you back to Hell Gate to assume the position of Sect Master."
"I said it six years ago—I have no interest in the position of Hell Gate Sect Master!" Ye Huan said coldly.
Yaoji and Hongluan exchanged glances!
They had seen people put on airs before, but they had never witnessed a "King of Pretension" on Ye Huan's level.
That was the legendary Hell Gate! Anyone wielding this kind of power would have the leverage to go toe-to-toe with any nation on the globe.
And look at Ye Huan: all the higher-ups of Hell Gate were practically begging and pleading for him to be Sect Master—apparently having begged for six whole years—yet Ye Huan flatly refused!
"Uhm, let me chime in."
Hongluan took small steps over to Ye Huan's side and asked in a low voice:
"What happened to the previous Hell Gate Sect Master? Why are they begging you to take the position?"
"Six years ago, I chopped the Hell Gate Sect Master to death!" Ye Huan said casually.
Hongluan: "......"
Yaoji: "......"
*Fucking badass!*
Yes, they could no longer think of any other words to describe Ye Huan.
Since the birth of Hell Gate over a millennium ago, past sect masters were hailed as the most mysterious people on Earth, even more mysterious than the current Underworld King.
Forget killing them—no one even knew who the Hell Gate Sect Master was!
The Underworld King was truly formidable!
Not only did he know who the Hell Gate Sect Master was, he had actually hacked the guy to death.
And if that wasn't weird enough, the truly bizarre part was that instead of seeking revenge for their late master, the people of Hell Gate were actually begging Ye Huan to become their new leader.
Awesome!
Simply too fucking awesome!