?23: Chapter 23: All are Heartless People 23: Chapter 23: All are Heartless People Li Family Villa.

    A sea of raging flames engulfed the entire villa, consuming it completely while numerous fire engines worked to extinguish the fire.

    However, the fire spread rapidly, and in no time, Li Family Villa was reduced to ashes.

    Standing in the bustling crowd, Ye Xuan calmly watched the scene unfold before him until he turned to leave, unnoticed by anyone.

    One must be ruthless in their actions, and cut the weeds to eliminate the roots.

    Having exterminated Wu Jun, how could Ye Xuan spare Li Zongshan?

    That night, Jiangnan City was anything but peaceful.

    The leader of the Beichuan Gang met a gruesome death within his group, and the Li Family was reduced to ashes overnight.

    This news spread rapidly, and how could their old rivals miss such a golden opportunity?

    The territory of the Beichuan Gang was quickly devoured by two other major underground forces, and all of the Li Family’s businesses were completely taken over by other families.

    The changes that occurred overnight disrupted the entire structure of Jiangnan City.

    Jiangnan Hospital.

    Tie Li lay on the hospital bed, wrapped in bandages, speaking on the phone.

    “He must be an Ancient Martial Grandmaster, there’s no doubt about it,” asserted Tie Li firmly.

    “Mm, yes, Chief, alright, I understand.” It was ten minutes before Tie Li hung up the phone.

    “Tie Brother, what did the Chief say?” Linglong asked as she sat beside the bed.

    “The Chief told us not to act recklessly.

    He’s leading members of the Earth Group to Jiangnan City,” Tie Li replied thoughtfully.

    Upon hearing Tie Li’s words, Linglong’s eyes brightened, “That’s great.

    Once the Chief and his team arrive in Jiangnan City, that guy surely won’t be able to escape.”

    “Alas!”

    “I’m afraid the Chief’s purpose isn’t merely to capture him,” Tie Li sighed regretfully.

    Seeing the complexity in Tie Li’s expression, Linglong’s face showed a hint of shock and suspicion as if realizing something.

    “Could it be...

    Could it be the Chief wants to recruit him into Wu’an Office?” Linglong asked, startled.

    “He is an Ancient Martial Grandmaster.

    If I were the Chief, I might entertain the same thought,” Tie Li said with a wry smile.

    “Really?”

    As Linglong received confirmation from Tie Li, she frowned and said, “If he’s recruited into Wu’an Office, won’t we have to become his teammates?”

    “Teammates?”

    With self-derision, Tie Li smiled and said, “Linglong, you’re overthinking it.

    Not to mention anything else, just based on his status as an Ancient Martial Grandmaster, at the very least, he would be at the Chief’s level.

    It’s likely we would have to follow his commands.”

    As he finished speaking, Ye Xuan’s figure emerged in Tie Li’s mind, and remembering the opponent’s terrifying methods, a chilling dread rose from within.

    ...

    Days passed, with Jiangnan City unusually calm.

    Even the usual street thugs were scarcely seen, and with the destruction of the Li Family and the death of Wu Jun, these two major incidents were suppressed by the magistrate of Jiangnan.

    The orders from the high ranks of Wu’an Office stated that they would handle these matters exclusively, relieving the magistrate of Jiangnan and the Suspended Mirror Department from further investigation.

    With Wu’an Office being involved, an entity of formidable repute, it was naturally not something the magistrate of Jiangnan would dare to discuss openly, and he was also content to enjoy a few quiet days.

    Ye Xuan had been content these past few days, spending his days at home gardening, caring for the grass, and reading ancient texts.

    When his younger sister and mother returned home, the family would joyfully share dinner together—an easy life that Ye Xuan cherished.

    The family was back on track, and everything was developing in a positive direction, which was what Ye Xuan wanted to see.

    However, since the day Ye Ling’er discovered that Ye Xuan had gone to meet with Wu Jun, not only had he returned home safely, but the Beichuan Gang also stopped troubling Ye Xuan.

    Ye Ling’er realized her brother was no ordinary person.

    She would pester Ye Xuan every day after school, trying to uncover what secrets he might be hiding.

    “Brother, come on, tell me, do you know martial arts?

    Like the kind where you can run up walls and injure people with your inner strength?”

    One morning, as Ye Xuan was leisurely reading an ancient book and sipping tea, Ye Ling’er walked out of her room, wrapped her arms around his neck, and cooed at him.

    Looking at Ye Ling’er’s curious face, Ye Xuan shook his head helplessly.

    Days had passed, and each day as the girl went to school, she would ask again, which left Ye Xuan somewhat exasperated.

    “Okay, you’re going to be late for school if you don’t go now,” Ye Xuan said as he tousled his sister’s hair.

    “Hmph, if you won’t tell, never mind then.”

    Ye Ling’er pouted, picked up her school bag, and started walking out but suddenly turned back and said, “Bro, you don’t have a girlfriend, right?”

    “Let me tell you, our Chinese language teacher is a real beauty, definitely no less than Xia Qingzhu.

    I think you should come to school with me, then maybe...”

    Hearing Ye Ling’er’s words, Ye Xuan momentarily froze, a figure flashing through his mind before he quickly dismissed the thought.

    However, his eyes hinted at some inner turmoil.

    Ye Ling’er, sensing she had misspoken, felt a pang of guilt and quickly said, “Brother, I didn’t mean it, I won’t mention her again.”

    “Alright, go to school,” Ye Xuan waved his hand and continued reading his ancient text, while Ye Ling’er, looking at her brother’s calm face, sighed inwardly and hurried off to school.

    As his sister left, Ye Xuan put down the ancient book, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed in the direction of the Capital City, his eyes deep and thoughtful, memories flickering through his mind.

    “Ye Xuan, I’m waiting for you to marry me.”

    Her bright, beautiful smile was cold yet striking, as if her smile could melt glaciers and intoxicate the masses.

    “Ye Xuan, you’re just a discarded member of the Ye Family.

    How could you be worthy of my daughter?

    From now on, you are not to contact her, or you won’t like how I treat you.” Those were her father’s words.

    “She is a favored daughter of heaven, and what are you?” said the eldest son of the Ye Family, sneering repeatedly.

    In Jiangnan Hospital.

    Ye Xuan, afflicted with a terminal illness, lay on the hospital bed.

    Xia Qingzhu’s eyes were downcast in the silent room.

    After a long silence, Xia Qingzhu looked up at Ye Xuan and asked, “Did you...

    ever like me?”

    The two young people sat wordlessly.

    Ye Xuan, gravely ill and without a sliver of hope for the future, fully understood that when Xia Qingzhu asked this, she was seeking a reason to free herself.

    “Perhaps... I once did,” Ye Xuan finally said with a trace of sadness in his eyes, offering the answer she wanted.

    “I...

    am leaving...

    back to the Capital City...”

    “As we part today, we may never meet again.

    I hope you find the right person in the future,” Ye Xuan said calmly, slowly closing his eyes.

    Returning from his reverie, Ye Xuan roused from his memories and gazed in the direction of the Capital City, his voice slightly hoarse.

    “When a thought arises, all rivers and mountains have feelings; when the thought ceases, the seas change and the heart no longer cares!”

    Emerging from the Blood Sea and reviving from Silent Annihilation, the four years of hovering between life and death allowed Ye Xuan to truly grow.

    Though past affections might forever linger in his heart, they could no longer stir any ripples.

    Meeting is fate, as is not meeting.

    Regarding Xia Qingzhu, since Ye Xuan returned to the Human World, he harbored no illusions; he was a heartless man, yet wasn’t Xia Qingzhu the same back then?