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Ye Xiao thought for a moment, then said to Weei Jie, "Uncle Weei, I don't know what Huang Zongyuan looks like, and I'm not familiar with his usual haunts. Moreover, I have to protect Miss Ling, so I can't be in two places at once to deal with Huang Zongyuan. Surely Uncle Ling is aware of this?"

Weei Jie spoke while driving, "I've considered this point, and so must have Mr. Ling. However, Mr. Ling said that you should handle this matter yourself. He just wants Huang Zongyuan gone, regardless of the method. Regarding this, both I and Mr. Ling can't help you, as there are many matters to attend to within the corporation!"

A wave of annoyance instantly surged in Ye Xiao's heart. Wasn't this giving him a difficult problem to solve? With Ling Hengyu's formidable status in Minghai City, why couldn't he deal with a Huang Zongyuan? Could it be that Huang Zongyuan was really some high-ranking figure?

Ye Xiao truly did not want to deal with Huang Zongyuan. The reason was simple: protecting the great beauty Ling Shuya was a pleasant duty he didn't want to be distracted from by searching for Huang Zongyuan!

But now it seemed it was no longer a matter of whether Ye Xiao was willing, but rather something he must do.

Returning to the villa, Weei Jie left immediately, taking Ye Xiao's ID card with him, claiming it was needed to apply for a driving license!

"Ye Xiao!" As soon as Weei Jie left, Zhou Yuyan suddenly called out to Ye Xiao!

Ye Xiao looked towards Zhou Yuyan with curiosity.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Yuyan asked, "Are you really going to kill someone?"

Hearing Zhou Yuyan's words, Ye Xiao was at a loss for words. Of course, Ling Hengyu's intention was for him to kill Huang Zongyuan. But even though it was for Ling Shuya's sake, murder was not exactly a noble affair, was it?

"No, you're overthinking it!" Ye Xiao said to Zhou Yuyan.

Zhou Yuyan scoffed and said, "Do you think I'm a three-year-old child? I just want to say, if you really are going to kill someone, make sure you wash off the bloody smell before coming back. Shuya and I really detest the scent of blood!"

"Alright, I got it!" Ye Xiao said as he made his way to his room. However, just as he reached the door, a faint fragrance hit him, and he was slightly stunned, suddenly puzzled—what was this fragrance? Could it be...

Ye Xiao quickly opened the door and entered, locking it with a loud clank!

Seeing Ye Xiao lock the door so tightly, Ling Shuya and Zhou Yuyan were puzzled, but they didn't concern themselves too much with Ye Xiao's business and proceeded upstairs to bathe.

Once the door was closed behind him, Ye Xiao wore a smile, but he said, "Qinger, come out!"

As soon as the words left Ye Xiao's mouth, giggling laughter and voices emerged, "Sister, how could Brother have guessed so easily that we were here?"

"Nonsense, anyone from Qiu Mountain Sect would recognize your body scent as Chu Qinger!" another voice remarked.

Ye Xiao walked further inside where a doll-faced girl with a ponytail, exquisitely delicate features, and a complexion white as snow appeared. Though not very old, her figure far surpassed those of first-rate celebrities, and her big watery eyes added a touch of spirit to the girl's appearance.

"Brother!" Chu Qinger ran up to Ye Xiao and threw her arms around his neck.

The strong scent enveloping him made Ye Xiao's head spin. Chu Qinger's body fragrance was almost too intoxicating, and held in her embrace, his body almost began to react. He hurriedly said, "You crazy girl, how did you know I was here?"

Chu Qinger let go of Ye Xiao, saying with a giggle, "Hey, Brother, did you think you could hide your whereabouts from me and Senior Sister? Right, Senior Sister?"

In the room, another woman of similar age to Ye Xiao appeared. Her beauty rivaled that of Ling Shuya or Zhou Yuyan, but she possessed a greater sense of composed maturity. This woman was the same Senior Sister Ye Xiao had mentioned before, named Shen Qiuyu.

With a smile, Shen Qiuyu said to Ye Xiao, "This little troublemaker Qinger couldn't find you on Qiu Mountain and made such a fuss. Our master didn't know what to do with her, so he told us where you were, and here we are!"

"Ah?" Ye Xiao immediately laughed and said, "Master must have been tormented by this girl. Otherwise, he would never have told. When I was about to come here, Master strictly instructed me to keep it a secret."

Shen Qiuyu replied, "It's not just Master, even our Ancestor would not be able to withstand Qinger's mischief. If Master tried to sleep, she would pry his eyelids open and even blow air into his eyes. As you know, Master indulges Qinger in every way and would never get angry. Thus, she tortured Master into a state where he was suffering in silence until he finally caved and confessed!"

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"Senior Sister, how could I possibly do such things? Senior Brother Ye Xiao is absolutely slandering me. Anyway, let's not talk about this. Senior Brother, what mission did Master send you here for, and why are you living with two girls? Tell me honestly, what is your relationship with them?" Chu Qinger looked at Ye Xiao with utter seriousness.

Ye Xiao replied, "I'm here as a bodyguard, for one of the girls. My monthly salary is fifty thousand. Not bad, huh?"

At that moment, Shen Qiuyu spoke to Ye Xiao, "Ye Xiao, before we came here, Master had something for me to tell you!"

"What is it?" Ye Xiao inquired.

Shen Qiuyu said, "Do you remember Hong Ancheng?"

"Hong Ancheng?" Ye Xiao thought for a moment, then said immediately, "I remember that half a year ago, I went to the Northern Territory on a mission to kill a man named Hong Ancheng. What about him? Isn't he already dead?"

Shen Qiuyu replied, "Hong Ancheng is indeed already dead. However, his nephew, Hong Shaofeng, has come to Minghai City, and according to reliable information, Hong Shaofeng's Martial Arts Realm is definitely no less than Yellow Rank Late Stage, and it's very possible he's already at the Yellow Rank Peak!"

Ye Xiao asked, "Do you mean to say that Hong Shaofeng has come to Minghai City to kill me?"

Shen Qiuyu responded, "Yes, Master's message is simple: it would be best if you can kill Hong Shaofeng, but if you truly can't kill him, then find a way to save your life. As for the task Master previously asked you to do, it can be postponed."

Half a year ago, Ye Xiao had received an order from Master for a highly rewarding task he had secured for Ye Xiao—the assassination of a man. Thus, Ye Xiao went to the Northern Territory. There, in the ice and snow, he battled Hong Ancheng and his son for over a hundred rounds. In the end, Ye Xiao killed Hong Ancheng and his son, suffering severe injuries himself. Had it not been for the protection of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, Ye Xiao might have died in that encounter. He killed Hong Ancheng's son, too, to avoid future troubles. Yet unexpectedly, his nephew also came seeking revenge, and what's more, with such a high Martial Arts Realm!

Seeing Ye Xiao not speaking, Shen Qiuyu asked, "Ye Xiao, why don't we return to Qiu Mountain and consult Master on what to do?"

Return to Qiu Mountain?

Ye Xiao smiled wryly. He was not one to shy away from trouble. It didn't matter to him if it were Hong Shaofeng or Hong Ancheng resurrected; he would not fear in the slightest. However, the emergence of Hong Shaofeng was definitely a threat to Ling Shuya. Ye Xiao was far from a man of noble character; if he were in Hong Shaofeng's position, he would surely use Ling Shuya as leverage. It was the simplest and most effective method!

For Ye Xiao to walk away would be easy, but if because of him, Ling Shuya got hurt, Ye Xiao would be plagued with guilt!

"I am now the bodyguard of this family, and I am to be here for two years, so I'm not going anywhere!" Ye Xiao stated earnestly.

Shen Qiuyu frowned slightly, saying, "Ye Xiao, why are you so stubborn? I know you are quite strong, but among the strong there are always stronger. Nobody knows Hong Shaofeng's true strength. What if he has reached the terrifying Xuan Rank? Even if the three of us worked together, we might not be able to hurt him at all!"

Ye Xiao said, "Senior Sister, Qinger, go back. I promise, I will return to Qiu Mountain safe and sound."

"You promise?" Shen Qiuyu's expression shifted, saying, "With what can you assure us? Others might not know the cruelty of the Martial Arts World, but don't you? In a duel between martial artists, there's only life or death, no win or lose. I... both Qinger and I don't want to see you come to any harm!"

Chu Qinger, who had been noisy before, was now also looking at Ye Xiao with grave seriousness, "Senior Brother, can't you listen to Senior Sister just this once? It's really dangerous here. Maybe Hong Shaofeng already knows your location!"

Ye Xiao habitually pinched Chu Qinger's chubby cheeks with his hand, a smile spreading across his face, "Qinger, when have I ever not kept my word? As long as I say I will return to Qiu Mountain safely, I will definitely do so. Qinger, you and Senior Sister go back first. A mere Hong Shaofeng can't cause a big stir."

Shen Qiuyu and Chu Qinger exchanged glances. They knew Ye Xiao's character well—once he set his mind on something, no one's words would sway him.

"Then we won't leave!" Shen Qiuyu declared.

Ye Xiao immediately looked at Shen Qiuyu, saying, "Senior Sister, Qinger is still a child, and you? Are you also a child? Qinger is a once-in-decades talent of Qiu Mountain, having already reached the Yellow Rank Middle Stage. Her future achievements will k skyrocket. I don't want to see anything happen to her here!"

Hearing Ye Xiao's words, Shen Qiuyu sighed. Ye Xiao was right; the three of them were Master's most valued disciples, and their bond was the strongest within the vast Qiu Mountain. Although Chu Qinger was the youngest, her talent was the highest. Both Ye Xiao and Shen Qiuyu saw her as their own little sister.

After some contemplation, Shen Qiuyu finally said, "Alright."

"No, I won't leave!" Chu Qinger insisted.

Ye Xiao said, "Qinger, go back and focus on your cultivation. When you reach the same realm as your Senior Brother, then you can come back and help me. I believe you'll be able to reach my realm very soon!"

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