?43: Chapter 43: Everyone is Shocked 43: Chapter 43: Everyone is Shocked The sun set in the west, and night descended.

    By the time the first stream of moonlight sprinkled down, four of Xia Country’s top brass had been inside the courtyard for a full ten hours.

    Outside the door, Azure Dragon was smoking, a trace of anxiety on his face.

    He had never imagined that the first conversation between the four bigwigs and Ye Xuan would take such a long time.

    Azure Dragon was filled with curiosity.

    He really wanted to go in and see what kind of magic Ye Xuan possessed, to keep the leaders who manage millions of matters lingering here for such a long time.

    Creak!

    The gates of the courtyard were pushed open, and the four great leaders of Xia Country emerged with Ye Xuan, causing Azure Dragon to hurriedly extinguish the cigarette in his hand and head straight toward the leaders.

    “Ye, you don’t need to see us out.

    When you come to the Capital City next time, you must visit my home.

    Your aunt is an expert in the eight major cuisines, she’d be thrilled to know you’re coming.”

    “Indeed, come to the Capital City more often to see us old folks.

    If there’s ever anything you need, just let Azure Dragon know.

    If he doesn’t handle it well, you call us directly and see how we take care of him.”

    Watching how cordially the leaders treated Ye Xuan, Azure Dragon’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets—he knew well the personalities of these leaders.

    Every word and deed of theirs represented Xia Country, and even towards their own children they were incredibly exacting.

    Yet the scene before him was like a dream, almost unbelievable.

    “If Ye Xuan visits the Capital City again, I will certainly pay a visit,” Ye Xuan said with a smile.

    “Very well, Ye, there’s no need for further courtesies.

    If we don’t head back now, we might draw certain people’s attention and potentially trouble you again.”

    Azure Dragon opened the car door for the leaders, and as they got into the car, he took the seat beside the driver.

    The vehicle started and gradually vanished at the end of the road.

    ...

    Inside the car!

    The leaders were all looking rosy-cheeked, and although no one was speaking, Azure Dragon, from the passenger seat, could feel that their moods were exceptionally good.

    It was something he hadn’t witnessed for many years.

    “Leader, about the Ye Family’s matter...?” Azure Dragon ventured cautiously.

    “Hmph!”

    At the mention of the Ye Family, the leaders’ expressions changed, and Li Linguo even let out a cold snort, saying, “The Ye Family, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth; I really want to see if the eight great families think they can turn the world upside down.”

    “Old Li, leave this matter to you.

    If they don’t know their limits, then there’s no need to show mercy,” the Number One Leader said, his expression grave yet his words imbued with immense authority.

    “It’s also time to give them a warning,” Chancellor Zhang’s voice was inscrutable, clearly indicating that the leaders had already made a decision.

    Hearing the leaders’ discussion, Azure Dragon’s eyes showed great astonishment; it was clear that they intended to set their sights on the eight great families, and the cause of all this was due to Ye Xuan.

    “This guy...

    what...

    what exactly did he do?” Azure Dragon exclaimed in shock to himself.

    ...

    As storm clouds gathered, a cool detachment observed.

    While the eight great families were eagerly awaiting the leaders’ decision, a series of thunderous storms suddenly assaulted them.

    Overnight, massive tremors rocked the three realms of military, politics, and commerce; countless individuals were taken away by members of the Wu’an Office, and many more were clapped in irons.

    Businesses were sealed, officials dismissed and investigated—a blitz of thunderous blows left the eight great families panic-stricken, leading them to rush to the residences of the leaders overnight, seeking to understand what had happened.

    Alas, they were bluntly turned away at the door and vast numbers of troops surrounded the family residences of the eight great families, throwing them into a state of confusion.

    The eight great families had deep roots and, even though the leaders had taken heavy-handed measures against them, they had not gone too far.

    Rome wasn’t built in a day; this was a truth the leaders clearly understood.

    To completely dismantle the influence of the eight great families, they could only proceed gradually.

    However, following this action, the eight families had become much more compliant, and ultimately, they understood that the leaders’ move against their clans was all because of Ye Xuan.

    When the news spread among the eight major families, everyone was dumbfounded.

    They couldn’t understand who Ye Xuan was and why the bigwigs of Xia Country were willing to go so far as to clash with their own allies to support him.

    The major families were far from foolish.

    Although they wielded great power, they had no choice but to withdraw temporarily when faced with these leaders.

    They even ordered their younger generations not to offend Ye Xuan if they encountered him in the future.

    The commotion stirred up by Ye Xuan quietly subsided with the leaders cleaning up.

    Nonetheless, the major families deeply etched the name Ye Xuan into their minds.

    ...

    Ye Family’s large courtyard.

    Ye Canghai and his son wore expressions of deep worry, while Ye Ping stood by their side, surrounded by many somber-faced Ye family youngsters.

    “Ping, your elder brother is truly no ordinary person,” Ye Canghai said with a bitter smile, his eyes filled with immense regret.

    “Who would have thought this ungrateful son could wield such great power to even have the leaders backing him,” Ye Canghao remarked, his face a mix of emotions.

    “Canghao, he is, after all, your son.

    There are no obstacles between father and son that can’t be overcome.

    Perhaps we should...” Ye Canghai trailed off, hesitant.

    “Father, I understand what you mean.

    But even if I put aside my pride and ask him to return to the Ye Family, with his character, he certainly will not hearken to me,” Ye Canghao responded.

    “Besides, as you have seen, this ungrateful son not only killed my second brother and his son but also killed Nangong Yun.

    With just these two affairs alone, even if you don’t care, what about the Nangong Family?” Ye Canghao spoke clearly and logically.

    “Alas!”

    Ye Canghai let out a long sigh that seemed to age him by a decade.

    “I am old, and no longer capable of supporting this family.

    Your elder brother has always been away, indifferent to the position of Family Head.

    It has always been you and your second brother vying for this position.

    Now that your second brother is no more, I will fulfill your wish.

    From today onwards, you are the Family Head,” Ye Canghai said somberly after a long silence, leaving Ye Canghao momentarily stunned, a flicker of joy crossing his eyes before fading to somberness again.

    Ye Canghao was well aware that under normal circumstances, the position of Family Head would not have been his.

    But after the incident with Ye Xuan, he realized that with several leaders supporting Ye Xuan and unafraid of offending the eight major families, the days ahead for the Ye Family would be difficult.

    As Ye Xuan’s biological father, assuming the position of Family Head might help to alleviate the tensions with Ye Xuan.

    At this moment.

    Ye Ping’s expression was wooden, his eyes devoid of any sparkle, with intense turmoil going on inside him.

    He recalled the fierce look in Ye Xuan’s eyes when he left.

    “Could it be... I truly made the wrong choice?” Ye Ping mumbled to himself.

    ...

    Xia Family.

    Dressed in pajamas, Xia Qingzhu sat cross-legged on her soft bed, her eyes confused as she stared blankly at the moonlight outside her window, while Ye Xuan’s visage intermittently surfaced in her mind.

    “Ye Xuan...

    what kind of person are you?” Xia Qingzhu murmured to herself, a deep bitterness showing in her eyes.

    ...

    Nangong Family.

    Bang!

    The sound of jade shattering was heard.

    The Family Head of the Nangong Family’s face turned red with fury, his chilling demeanor unnerving the onlookers, who dared not even breathe too heavily.

    “Ye Xuan, you killed my beloved daughter; this vengeance is irreconcilable.”

    The Nangong Family Head paced back and forth, radiating an icy aura, clearly enraged to the extreme.

    “Even if you are an Innate Martial Artist with several bigwigs protecting you, I swear that even at the expense of the Nangong Family’s century-old foundation, I will make you pay the due price.”

    That night, the major families were far from peaceful, but they were unaware that Ye Xuan had never truly regarded them as important.

    And the future upheaval of Heaven and Earth would only illuminate the terrifying nature of Ye Xuan’s existence.