??Chapter 43: Chapter 39: Sowing Discord
Chapter 43: Chapter 39: Sowing Discord
Ye Chen kept his head down and continued to eat.
Ren Haotian said, “Last night, you really scared us. We thought you were captured by so kind of monster, and if you were, it would undoubtedly have ant certain death.”
“I should have climbed up to let you know,” Ye Chen explained, “but it was too dark, and I couldn’t leave that girl alone in the cave.” He hoped Young Master Ze would understand.
However, Haotian said, “There was no moonlight last night, and if you had fallen, it would have been deadly. We dared not make a move as safety is of utmost importance.”
Yuan Jingxing said, “It was a close call, but it’s a pity that we didn’t leave this chance to Young Master Ze.”
Haotian smiled and said, “As long as everyone is safe, that’s all that matters. If you had left Yu Qing alone, without food or water, and with a sprained foot up on the mountain for the night, what if sothing happened? Then, it wouldn’t be good!”
Upon hearing this, Jingxing nodded and said, “Hmm, that’s true. All that matters is that nothing happened.”
Haotian suggested, “I think we should have a good celebration.”
Ye Chen looked up, muttering, “Celebration?”
“Escaping from the jaws of death, of course we should have a good celebration. We’ve made it through such danger, how could we not?”
“Eh, there’s nothing worth celebrating. I think even if I hadn’t brought her out, soone would have rescued her the next morning.” Of course, this is what Ye Chen would say.
But Haotian replied, “Yu Qing, a young girl, had to stay in a cave on the mountainside for a night, she must have been terrified. She’s quite lucky.”
Jingxing asked, “Zhan Ze, do you think we should have a good celebration?”
Zhan Ze answered, “Let’s wait until her foot gets better before celebrating.”
“Yes, I have so sprain dicine that works wonders. I’ll bring it over for Yu Qing.”
Haotian laughed, “There’s no need for you to deliver dicine, we already have good dicine. Zhan Ze took so over at noon.”
Jingxing gave a slight smile when he heard this.
“Sorry for making everyone worry overnight,” Ye Chen said.
“Ha, no need to worry about that! It’s just good that nothing happened. If you had really been taken away by a monster, we wouldn’t know how to face your mother,” Haotian answered.
Ye Chen asked, “Lots of people went up the mountain looking for us, right?”
“That night, fifty to sixty people ca up and none of them descended. The next day, dozens more arrived, prepared to comb through an entire area to find you. Zhan Ze’s father already had plans in place. After breakfast, we were ready to act when you appeared on the mountainside,” Jingxing replied.
“I didn’t think the situation would get so big.”
“Heh heh, the unexplained disappearance of two people is no small matter.”
Su Zhanze said, “We should have considered that Yu Qing wouldn’t dare go too far.”
However, Jingxing responded, “Who would have thought that Yu Qing would be at the bottom of the cliff for no apparent reason!”
Haotian also nodded and said, “Yes, who would have thought!”
Jingxing said, “Shall we go see her later?”
Haotian looked at Zhan Ze.
Zhan Ze nodded.
“Haven’t you had dinner yet?” Jingxing asked Ye Chen, who seed to be quite hungry.
Ye Chen smiled and replied, “I planned to have dinner here, believing you guys would still be around, so I didn’t eat dinner before coming over.”
“Ha, what if we had already eaten, then you would have to go hungry.”
“Then I’d figure sothing else out.”
Jingxing laughed when he heard this.
Haotian said, “Anyway, he won’t go hungry!”
“Take your ti to eat, we’re not in a hurry, we can leave later,” Zhan Ze said.
Ye Chen still felt sowhat worried that this incident might affect Zhan Ze. When he decided to act, he didn’t think too much, but he understood how much Zhan Ze liked Yu Qing. He didn’t want any misunderstandings because Young Master Ze could get emotional for Qing’er.
It hadn’t been long since the incident of the firecracker injuring Qiao Haoyu.
He felt that Su Zhanze was not very happy.
It seed like he would have to be more careful in the future, he thought.
The sky had turned dusky, and it was quiet outside, but lanterns had been lit along the main pathways, so it wasn’t dark.
Haotian liked to joke around. He continued to lead the conversation like usual but Young Master Ze was quieter tonight, which made Ye Chen slightly quieter as well.
With Haotian’s liveliness and Jingxing’s responses, it didn’t feel too dull.
Haotian said, “I heard from Guo Yuqing that this morning, you encountered a snake.”
“Yes, indeed, a snake happened to slither by. Yu Qing was moving slowly, thankfully I found a branch in ti to fend it off,” Ye Chen replied.
“Weren’t you scared?”
“Scared, of course I was scared, even to the point of wetting my pants, but there was nothing else that could be done. You have to face it once it creeps towards you, ready to attack at any mont.”
“I heard the villagers here like to catch snakes, do you know how to catch them too, and even brew snake wine?”
“There are indeed snake-catching experts in the village, but it’s not sothing us kids would know about. I only said it to keep her calm. If both of us started panicking on the cliff, it would’ve been disastrous.”
Haotian said, “Looks like you have a lot of guts.”
“It was all from desperation, entirely from desperation.”
“Having a beauty beside you, you’d naturally have to muster up courage, wouldn’t you?” Jingxing said.
Ye Chen glanced at Su Zhanze and said, “At that ti, all I could think about was Young Master Ze. If sothing had happened to Yu Qing, if she had been injured by a poisonous snake, how could I explain it to him?”
Young Master Ze responded with a faint and insincere smile.
They were getting closer and closer.
Suddenly, two figures erged from the shadows. It was Qiao Haoyu and his accomplice, Dongfang Tang. They ca to see Yu Qing. After all, Qing’er was hurt, so they naturally had to co and see her.
They abruptly bumped into Zhan Ze who was walking ahead.
Imdiately like two roosters ready to fight, they exchanged glances. After contemplating, Zhan Ze asked, “What are you here for?”
“What I’m here for is none of your business. You’re really nosy.” Qiao Haoyu sneered. His face covered with two unhealed whisker burns from the previous firecracker incident.
Su Zhanze instantly retorted, “I suppose the firecrackers didn’t teach you enough.”
Dongfang Tang suddenly stepped forward and yelled, “It really was you!” He wanted to start a fight, but Haoyu blocked him. Tang’s face bore scars as well, probably from the firecrackers.
“What’s ? Did I ever say that! You’ve done so many disgraceful things that who knows how many enemies you have. This ti, you were just blasted by firecrackers. Next ti, you might set the yard on fire. The less disgraceful things you do, the better.” Su Zhanze snapped.
“Disgraceful? You’re the disgraceful one.” Dongfang Tang was still furious.
“What, is today the day this ‘dead chicken’ decides to act tough?”
Qiao Haoyu pulled Tang back, saying, “Don’t act so high and mighty. Even if Qing’er doesn’t like , it doesn’t an she’ll like you. Look who played the hero, it certainly wasn’t you. He’s the one who spent the night with Qing’er in the cave. Who knows what happened there?” He cast a sidelong glance at Ye Chen.
Ye Chen quickly replied, “It wasn’t about playing the hero. In Immortal City, anyone would extend a helping hand when soone’s in trouble.”
Qiao Haoyu coldly laughed and circled around Ye Chen, “I know I’m not a good person. But are you sure YOU are the one she likes? Don’t kick
aside, only to be left crying in the end.” He continued, looking at Ye Chen.
“You… it seems you really didn’t have enough of those firecrackers.” Su Zhanze shouted.
“I know I don’t have any advantages. The firecrackers, and those girls appearing—it’s all my bad luck. But you’ve also done plenty of disgraceful things. You’re not better than . Be careful, if Guo Yuqing doesn’t like , she might not like you either. Otherwise, why hasn’t she made her position clear by now?” Qiao Haoyu sneered, then turned away with Dongfang Tang.
Ye Chen stood there for a mont, looking down, not daring to et Young Master Ze’s gaze who seed sowhat irked.
Jingxing said, “That guy’s a piece of garbage. He’s just trying to sow discord. Zhan Ze, don’t let him get to you.”
Zhan Ze was visibly upset. With an irritated glance at Ye Chen, he stalked off into the courtyard without a word.
Ye Chen stood at the entrance, realizing that Zhan Ze was upset. He knew that Zhan Ze couldn’t help but be affected by this ordeal. Although he hadn’t expressed it, Ye Chen could tell. He had noticed it ever since they descended the mountain.
Haotian patted Ye Chen’s shoulder, laughing, “Don’t worry about it. It’s just his nonsense. Don’t take it to heart.” Then he followed Jingxing into the courtyard.
However, Ye Chen knew that Zhan Ze was a hot-headed person. This incident was a wake-up call for him – he’d have to tread carefully in the future to avoid trouble.
He took a mont to collect himself before following them inside.
“Is it just the three of you?” In the courtyard, Jiang Shizi had prepared a lot of food, and the three of them just arrived.
“Aren’t the three of us enough?” Jingxing said.
Zhan Ze kept his emotions in check.
“And the big hero?” Shizi asked.
“He’s behind.” Jingxing answered.
Young Master Ze asked with concern, “Is your foot feeling any better?”
Yu Qing responded, “Yeah, it doesn’t hurt as much anymore. Thanks to you for the dicine, Zhan Ze. It is a wound after all, it can’t possibly heal right away. It’ll take so ti to fully recover. You don’t have to worry.”
“Well, try to move around less so it doesn’t get injured again,” Ze expressed his concern.
“There are so crabs and other food left, do you guys want to eat?”
“Wow, what a feast today.” Haotian approached.
“Yeah, everyone knows about Yu Qing’s situation in the mountain and cares a lot about her. They sent a lot of food here. You guys also brought so food, didn’t you?”
At that mont, Ye Chen quietly entered from outside, catching the eye of Yu Qing. Both of them looked at each other, and mories of the cliff incident seed to cause them both to blush.
Zhan Ze smiled, “Tell
if you need sothing to eat, I’ll get it for you.”
Shizi smiled, asking, “Really?”
Yu Qing said, “There are only four of us, how much can we eat!”
“Oh, look, the big hero’s lurking in the corner,” Jiang Shizi said with laughter.
Ye Chen smiled slightly and comnted, “Hero, more like a big bear.”
Looking at Ye Chen, Yu Qing said, “Don’t worry about , all of you just sit. I am not getting up.”
“I’ll go make tea,” Bi Chun said, going with Luo Rui.
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