257: Ye Chen, are you henpecked?

"Trash!"

"A bunch of useless trash!!!"

Sima Li slammed the briefing in his hand onto the ground, suddenly flying into a rage.

"What kind of existence is my Sima Family?"

"One of the Five Great Families of the Capital!"

"And the result?"

"Dealing with a mere brat, yet they failed to take him out, and instead, completely disgraced our Sima Family!"

"Instead, that Ye Chen actually! Actually! Actually! Became the incarnation of justice?!"

Sima Li's chest heaved violently, and the veins on his temples throbbed.

"And that old dog Xuanyuan Huo!"

"This is simply outrageous!"

"He didn't appoint him earlier or later, but chose this exact moment to with great fanfare bestow the title of 'Chief Instructor of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion' upon Ye Chen!"

"This is clearly slapping our Sima Family's face!"

"He's telling everyone that the Dragon Group and he, Xuanyuan Huo, will protect this Ye Chen at all costs!"

"He is making a demonstration of power against our Sima Family!"

"He's warning us to stop touching the people of his Dragon Group!"

"Curse his ancestors!"

"Rage!"

"Uncontrollable rage!"

"But besides rage, he could do nothing to Xuanyuan Huo!"

"Why?"

"Because... that old thing is the biological elder brother of that person above!"

"Does his Sima Family dare to move against him?"

"If they really did, the entire Sima Family would truly be wiped out!"

"Seeing this, a steward spoke up cautiously, 'Family Head, now that Ye Chen has this status, should we for the time being...'"

"For the time being, what?!"

"Sima Li suddenly turned his head, his gaze piercing the steward like a knife. 'For the time being, swallow this insult? For the time being, let go of that little beast who made our Sima Family lose face?'"

"He gave a cold laugh, his voice bone-chillingly cold."

"I, Sima Li, have lived for sixty or seventy years, and I still haven't learned how to write the words 'swallow one's pride'!"

"Does Xuanyuan Huo think that by giving that kid an official title, I won't be able to touch him?"

"Chief Instructor of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion..."

"Hah, what grand official authority!"

"Sima Li sat back in his grandmaster's chair, the fire in his eyes gradually replaced by a sinister gloom."

"Openly, we indeed have to be wary of the Dragon Group and that old dog Xuanyuan Huo."

"But in the shadows..."

"The Sima Family has plenty of ways to make someone disappear!!!"

"He paused."

"He looked at the steward and gave a cold command."

"Go!"

"Tell Sima Nong that he must take care of that kid at all costs!"

"This concerns the very face of our Sima Family!!!"

"The steward was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, 'Then who should we send?'"

"Sima Nong had already gone to Xiamen City, but he didn't take many people with him."

"If they were to take people to Xiamen City with great fanfare now, they would likely be discovered by the Dragon Group halfway there."

"Sima Li sat back in his grandmaster's chair and said coldly."

"To deal with him, does the Sima Family still need to act personally?"

"Has that kid offended... only a few people?"

"Nether Spring is still locked in the Dragon Group's dungeon."

"But don't forget, Wang Zhenyue was the father-in-law of the Black Prison's Prison Master, and he has been killed by Ye Chen!"

"Do you think..."

"That Prison Master can swallow this insult?"

"As soon as these words were spoken."

"Everyone in the hall had a sudden realization."

"Rumor has it that the Prison Master dotes on his wife very much. Now that his father-in-law is dead, he certainly won't swallow his pride!"

"This is killing with a borrowed knife... brilliant!"

"The Family Head is wise!"

"...The crowd discussed in low voices, light rekindling in their eyes."

"Sima Li took in everyone's reactions and snorted coldly in his heart, continuing."

"That's right. Prison Master Gongsun Long dotes on Wang Xuerou particularly much; he will never stand by and do nothing."

"Moreover..."

"If he wants revenge, he won't be as restricted as we are."

"He tapped his fingers on the red sandalwood tea table."

"Pass my word to Sima Nong."

"Have him find a way to contact Gongsun Long, or directly find the people of the Black Prison remaining within the borders."

"Tell them..."

"Ye Chen is currently in Xiamen City and has just offended the Sima Family of the Capital, so he is isolated and without help."

"Our Sima Family can provide them with some conveniences..."

"A cold light flashed in Sima Li's eyes."

"For example, Ye Chen's whereabouts, information on the people around him, and even some equipment and financial support."

"But there is one condition—"

"His voice suddenly turned sharp."

"I want Ye Chen dead, along with that fragment of the 'xuanyin silk scroll' he snatched from the auction!"

"A trusted steward immediately bowed and flattered him."

"This plan of the Family Head is truly ingenious!"

"Let those mad dogs of the Black Prison who cannot see the light tear at Ye Chen. We only need to hand them the knife from behind and reap the benefits!"

"Even if the matter is exposed, it will be the remnants of the Black Prison seeking revenge, having nothing to do with my Sima Family!"

"Sima Li slowly leaned back against the chair, his eyes cold."

"Remember, tell Sima Nong to keep things clean."

"The Dragon Group and that old dog Xuanyuan Huo have very sharp noses."

"If he is discovered, then he shall atone with his death!"

"Furthermore..."

"He paused and added."

"Also remind Gongsun Long that Ye Chen is now the Chief Instructor of the Dragon Group's Qianlong Pavilion, and there may be Dragon Group experts available to him."

"Before they act, tell them to weigh it carefully. Either don't move at all, or move to kill with one blow, leaving no future troubles."

"Yes!" The steward solemnly accepted the command, quickly left the main hall, and hurried to make arrangements.

"The hall became quiet again."

"Sima Li looked out at the deep night through the window."

"Ye Chen..."

"Do you think you can sit back and relax just because you've clung to the Dragon Group's thigh?"

"These waters are very deep."

"Chief Instructor of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion..."

"Heh, I'll see if you, this hidden dragon, can live until the day you truly soar!"

"...Early the next morning, the sky was faintly bright."

"Ye Chen woke up early and called Yi Yue to ask about the recent situation."

"After confirming there were no major problems, Ye Chen felt relieved."

"Indeed."

"With Yi Yue and Yi Zhengtian protected by that woman Night Owl, there wouldn't be any problems."

"He then washed up and went out, only to find that Li Qin and Liu Qingluo were very hardworking; they were even earlier than him and were already practicing in the gym."

"Even... Bing Lan was doing yoga with them!"

"He felt quite ashamed."

"So he silently changed into sportswear and went downstairs for a morning run."

"They were all working so hard, how could he be lazy?"

"The greenery in Dijing Garden was excellent, and the fresh morning air was refreshing."

"Ye Chen stretched his limbs and began jogging along the landscape path of the community."

"Not far into his run, a set of footsteps came from behind."

"Following that."

"A tall figure unhurriedly caught up and ran side-by-side with him."

"Ye Chen didn't need to turn his head to know who it was."

"Who else could it be but that lingering Eldest Miss Yan?"

"Today, Yan Qingwu had changed out of her provocative leather outfit and put on a set of light gray tight sportswear."

"The form-fitting top and tight leggings perfectly outlined her curvaceous and explosive figure."

"Especially those long, beautiful legs wrapped in tight leggings, which were full of power and beauty as she ran."

"She had her hair in a neat high ponytail, her fair neck and profile striking in the morning light, with a few strands of hair stuck to her temples by sweat, adding a touch of wild beauty."

"Instructor Ye, morning."

"Yan Qingwu greeted him with a smile."

"Her tone sounded normal, but her eyes clearly said, 'This lady is here again.'"

"Ye Chen ignored her, his pace unchanged."

"Seeing Ye Chen ignore her, Yan Qingwu quickened her pace by two steps and asked dissatisfiedly."

"Hey, I say, Great Instructor Ye, why are you so impolite?"

"I've already bought the house; we'll be neighbors from now on!"

"Right above your place!"

"Ye Chen was momentarily stunned."

"Good heavens!"

"This woman is really something!"

"To stir things up, she actually bought it?"

"He was very surprised, but his expression didn't change at all, and his pace didn't stop, treating her words as wind past his ears."

"Seeing him ignore her again, Yan Qingwu became even more annoyed."

"Are you a mute?"

"From now on, we'll be seeing each other all the time; you can't hide!"

"Ye Chen finally glanced at her. 'I know. If there's nothing else, don't affect my running.'"

"Affect?"

"Yan Qingwu's eyes widened, and she pointed at herself. 'A great beauty like me is accompanying you on your morning run, and you actually think I'm an "affect"? Instructor Ye, could it be that your eyesight is bad?'"

"Ye Chen replied flatly, 'I'm afraid Bing Lan will misunderstand.'"

"Oh?"

"Yan Qingwu drew out the sound, her face turning strange. 'So our fearless Great Instructor Ye is actually henpecked? The grand Chief Instructor of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion is afraid of his girlfriend's misunderstanding? If this gets out, people will laugh their heads off!'"

"Ye Chen didn't bother to respond and quickened his pace."

"Yan Qingwu immediately sped up to keep up, being persistent."

"What, did I hit the mark?"

"Actually, it's quite normal for powerful men to have many wives and concubines!"

"Look at those great heroes and legends of old; which one didn't have beauties all over the world?"

"You're so capable, Instructor, it's only normal to have a few beauties around you. Sister Bing Lan is so sensible, she certainly wouldn't..."

"Before she could finish, a clear male voice suddenly came from behind, interrupting her."

"Light Dance!"

"The voice was like thunder, penetrating the entire park."

"Ye Chen and Yan Qingwu stopped at the same time and looked back."

"They saw."

"On the path not far away, a young man was walking briskly toward them."

"The man looked to be about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with a tall stature and a handsome face."

"Yan Qingwu saw the person coming, and the smile on her face vanished instantly, replaced by annoyance: 'Bai Chi, why are you here?'"