Chapter 101 - 98: Change of Attitude

Chapter 101: Chapter 98: Change of Attitude As Ye Xuan stepped out of the courtyard, several figures were already standing outside, among them the imposing presence of Master Gu, who was most likely the one who had been shouting earlier. "You little beast, you dare to show your face?" Seeing Ye Xuan emerge from the courtyard, Master Gu’s expression quickly turned gloomy, his eyes flashing with a poisonous glint. "Why wouldn’t I dare? I haven’t done anything wrong," Ye Xuan replied with a slight smile curving his lips. "Bullshit, you audacious little beast, you’ve broken my arm, and now you even have the nerve to claim you’ve done no wrong?" Master Gu’s right arm was wrapped and immobilized with white cloth, obviously having just received treatment; seeing Ye Xuan’s calm and serene demeanor only infuriated him further. "Gu Yong is a Spirit Pharmacist of our Spiritual Items Workshop. Whatever wrong he has committed, I would think it could be properly discussed. However, without a word, you broke his hand. Such actions are excessively cruel, don’t you think?" Standing beside Gu Yong was a square-faced middle-aged man in a white robe, who, spoke with an undertone of dissatisfaction toward Ye Xuan, knowing that although Gu Yong’s character was often questionable, he was still part of their Workshop. Now, with his hand directly broken, if they were to remain indifferent, wouldn’t that mean anyone could bully their way onto the heads of the Spiritual Items Workshop? At that moment, Ye Xuan’s gaze followed the voice and landed on the middle-aged man in white. His pupils briefly narrowed as he felt an aura from the man that was on par with Tang Zhen’s, evidently reaching the Half-step Martial Sect level. "Big brother Ye Xuan, this is Nie Tao, the person in charge of the Spiritual Items Workshop in Green Sun County. He’s as strong as my father," Tang Xiaoyan whispered to him. Ye Xuan was somewhat surprised to hear this. He hadn’t anticipated that a mere branch manager of a Spiritual Items Workshop would be a Half-step Martial Sect Master, underscoring the Workshop’s formidable influence; truly befitting of a commercial titan dominating the Tiannan Region. However, even with the knowledge of Nie Tao’s identity and strength, Ye Xuan didn’t seem too concerned. He scoffed and then turned to Gu Yong, "Cruel? Master Nie, you might want to ask this Master Gu what he did to deserve such treatment. I merely disabled one of his arms, which is quite lenient, all things considered." Upon hearing this, Nie Tao’s brows furrowed slightly. He indeed didn’t know what Gu Yong had done at the Tang family’s home. Now, hearing Ye Xuan’s words, he couldn’t help but start to doubt; could it be that Gu Yong really had committed some heinous misdeed? "Master, don’t listen to this kid’s nonsense. If one wishes to condemn, any excuse will do. I, as a Spirit Medicine Master of the Spiritual Items Workshop, was assaulted by this youngster without cause. Look at the overconfident way he’s behaving; he clearly doesn’t take our Workshop seriously. The evidence is right before us, and if we don’t teach this kid a lesson, he’ll only grow more arrogant," Gu Yong said with a shift in his expression, then took a more severe tone. Nie Tao nodded. No matter what, it was Gu Yong who had been injured. Even if Gu Yong had indeed done something wrong, it wasn’t the place of an outsider to mete out justice. Ye Xuan’s behavior was akin to slapping the face of the Spiritual Items Workshop and could not be tolerated. "Kid, come with us." In the Tang family’s home, it wasn’t appropriate to take direct action, but Nie Tao looked indifferently at Ye Xuan, convinced that the latter wouldn’t escape today. "What if I say no?" Ye Xuan asked lightly, with a faint smile. "That’s not up to you," Nie Tao responded, his eyes flashing a cold light, seemingly ready to forcibly take Ye Xuan into custody. "Big brother Ye Xuan, run!" Seeing this, Tang Xiaoyan mustered her courage, surprisingly stepping in front of Ye Xuan as if to shield him and help him escape. But she didn’t realize Ye Xuan had never intended to flee because he knew that in the end, Nie Tao wouldn’t really harm him. "Hold on, what did you call him, Ye Xuan?" Nie Tao suddenly stopped, his eyes brightening astoundingly as he turned to Ye Xuan and asked with a surprised demeanor. "Yes," Ye Xuan admitted, seeing Nie Tao halt incredulously. Tang Xiaoyan was somewhat bewildered, and after a while, she finally nodded her head. Nie Tao’s eyes shifted subtly, then he hurriedly pulled out a portrait. After comparing the portrait with Ye Xuan, Nie Tao’s expression changed. Then, under the somewhat puzzled looks of the others, he unexpectedly stepped close to Ye Xuan, bent over, and began to apologize. "Nie Tao, what is this nonsense, aren’t you going to discipline this brat for me?" Gu Yong saw Nie Tao’s incomprehensible behavior and immediately darkened in complexion, barking at him. "Shut your mouth!" Nie Tao glared fiercely at Gu Yong, thinking that the old man was perhaps too foolish. Couldn’t he see the situation clearly by now? If it weren’t for some particular reason, would he suddenly change his attitude towards Ye Xuan? Having lived such a long life, it’s as if he wasted it all. Unable to be bothered with Gu Yong, Nie Tao instead turned towards Ye Xuan and with clasped fists, said, "Mr. Ye Xuan, I did not realize it was you before and have given offense." "Do you know me?" Ye Xuan had already guessed the reason, but he still pretended to be unaware and asked the question. "You are the high-ranking guest that the higher-ups ordered us to receive with great honor. How could I possibly not know? Knowing that you were coming to the Great Hua Country, it was assumed you would first arrive in Green Sun County, so preparations were made in advance." Nie Tao’s expression was grave as he spoke. Ye Xuan was a person that the upper echelons of the Spiritual Items Workshop had ordered to treat with great importance. As a mere branch master, he certainly couldn’t afford to offend him, but he still was slightly puzzled as to why the higher-ups valued a youth who seemed not yet twenty years old so highly. Could it be that the latter had an astounding background? With this thought, Nie Tao became even more cautious. What kind of capabilities could a young man have? Most likely, it was his backing, and given the high regard from the high levels of the Spiritual Items Workshop, that backing couldn’t be just anyone’s. Not even the scions of the Great Hua Country’s Royal Family nor the Disciples of the Heavenly Martial Hall would receive such treatment. Unfortunately, he was unaware that the real reason for Ye Xuan being highly regarded was due to his prescription, especially the Life Extending Pill, which brought tremendous benefits and success to the Spiritual Items Workshop. That was the crucial point. Moreover, Ye Xuan’s own identity seemed rather elusive to the Workshop. Originally, they had suspected that there was a formidable person behind Ye Xuan. After his slaughter in the Panlong Mountains, when a powerful and mysterious person saved him, this belief was even more solidified. Ye Xuan was definitely no ordinary Princely Heir of the Ye family. Behind him, there must undoubtedly be a remarkable background. "So that’s how it is." Ye Xuan nodded, understanding that the Spiritual Items Workshop, as the commercial behemoth of the Tiannan Region, naturally had unparalleled sources of information. It wasn’t surprising that they had anticipated his travel route. "But, I still have a small issue with Master Gu..." Suddenly, Ye Xuan appeared to be hesitating a little. "That small disagreement, let’s just consider it settled," Nie Tao said with a relaxed smile. However, while Nie Tao took it lightly, Gu Yong certainly did not share the same mood. Hearing Nie Tao suggest to erase the incident just like that, he too changed his expression, wanting to object quickly, but was silenced by a stern glance, forcing him to swallow the words he was about to say. "Oh? Then I thank Master Gu for his magnanimity." Ye Xuan looked at Gu Yong with a smiling countenance, though the latter had a forced smile on his face, his heart was bleeding. Three hundred thousand taels and a broken arm were to be dismissed just like that? Who was he to seek compensation from? But now, trying to settle accounts with Ye Xuan had become impossible. He had to swallow his teeth along with the blood, who would have thought Ye Xuan had such capability that even Nie Tao had to bow and scrape. Would he dare to speak ill of this? That would be asking for trouble. Off to the side, Tang Xiaoyan was also looking at the scene in disbelief. She had never seen Nie Tao be so polite to anyone, not even to her own father did he show such treatment. "Mr. Ye Xuan, our Spiritual Items Workshop branch in East City is ready for you. I shall have a room and banquet prepared right away so that you can move there as soon as possible," Nie Tao said enthusiastically. "There’s no need to trouble yourself. I find the Tang family’s accommodation to be quite satisfactory and don’t wish to move." Ye Xuan waved his hand. The Spiritual Items Workshop, after all, was a commercial force that valued profit. His dealings with them were mostly based on mutual benefit, and moving there might not feel quite right. "By the way, there is a favor I need to ask from Master Nie." Ye Xuan suddenly remembered something and took out a piece of paper, handing it to Nie Tao, "The medicinal ingredients on this list, please help me gather them. Once you have collected them all, please deliver them as soon as possible." The ingredients listed were mostly supplements meant to restore Primordial Qi, most of them not particularly difficult to find. With the capabilities of the Spiritual Items Workshop, it shouldn’t be hard to collect them. Taking the paper, Nie Tao glanced at it briefly, then nodded, "No problem, the ingredients listed here can be collected within two days without any unforeseen issues. I will have someone deliver them to you as soon as they are gathered." "That would be most appreciated." Ye Xuan clasped his fists in thanks. If he could get all these ingredients, he would be able to ensure that his strength would return to its peak within half a month. This was much sooner than the two months he had originally anticipated. It seemed that building a good relationship with the Spiritual Items Workshop had indeed been the right choice. In half a month’s time, in the duel scheduled with the Family Head of the Cao family, Cao Qiudao, he might be able to stand in for Tang Zhen. After all, once his strength recovered, he might indeed be able to fight against a Half-step Martial Sect Master, and in his heart, he was also somewhat looking forward to a direct confrontation with Cao Qiudao.