Chapter 97: Miss Ye

The crowd clicked their tongues in astonishment.

"Immortal Master? Does River City truly have an Immortal Master? And are you certain this isn't simply superstition?" Several of the old masters began to harbor doubts about the title.

"There truly is an Immortal Master! Every soul from River City who has boarded that vessel has no choice but to revere the man as Immortal Master. It is precisely through his supreme Daoist arts that their safety was preserved. Each and every one of them worships that Immortal Master Chen with the deepest devotion. Once you return to River City, you are certain to hear of Immortal Master Chen's fame." Master Zhu spoke with a trace of reverence flickering in his eyes.

"To think that our River City could produce an Immortal Master—this is truly a figure of extraordinary stature." Hearing Master Zhu's words, the several old masters began to believe, nodding in approval.

Only Shen Chengde paid no heed to any of this. He had already rested and replenished his vigor, preparing to go for another bout of passion with that beauty.

"You gentlemen chat on—I have matters to attend to, so I shan't keep you company!" He rose to his feet and called out to the group.

The old masters teased with knowing smiles: "Master Shen, do take it easy now—don't go leaving your old bones behind in this place."

Shen Chengde laughed heartily and strode out of the sauna room looking as proud as a conquering rooster.

Bao Kui and his son exchanged a faint smile.

Master Miao cast a cold sidelong glance at the father and son. In his heart, he knew perfectly well that their fawning over Shen Chengde was certainly not without ulterior motives. But it was none of his concern, and besides, he held Shen Chengde in utter contempt, so he could not be bothered to pay the matter any mind.

Suddenly, at that moment, the door of the sauna room was shoved open with tremendous force.

A young man with an aloof, indifferent expression stood at the threshold, and at his feet lay several security guards curled up on the ground, plainly having been broken through by force.

The old masters started in alarm and rose to their feet, gazing at the young man in bewilderment.

"Where is Shen Chengde?"

The newcomer was none other than Chen Yuyi. Seeing that Shen Chengde had not returned home for several days, and Shen Zhuyun, though she had not explicitly asked him to fetch her father back, had made her meaning abundantly clear, he had come straight to River Island to find him.

He walked up to Bao Kui and his son, showing not the slightest courtesy, addressing even his father-in-law by his full name, and demanded coldly of the father and son.

The old masters looked in confusion at Bao Kui and his son and him, unable to make sense of the situation.

"How dare you barge into a place like this?" Bao Wu demanded, clenching his fists.

"Who is this person?" the old masters asked, clearly directing the question at Bao Kui and his son.

"He's that cut-rate son-in-law of Master Shen!" Bao Wu sneered.

Everyone was taken aback—so this was the Shen family's son-in-law.

Bao Kui's expression also turned rather cold as he said, "Master Shen is not here. Young Master-in-Law, please turn back."

"It seems that unless I teach you a lesson, you won't be honest!" Chen Yuyi said with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression flat and unconcerned.

"Boy, this place is no ground for you to run wild in. Let me be the one to teach you a lesson first!" Bao Wu had long harbored the urge to lay hands on the Shen family's son-in-law. Now, seeing him speak rudely to his father, he could no longer restrain himself. He hurtled at Chen Yuyi, fists swinging.

Bao Kui had initially wanted to stop him, but seeing how utterly contemptuous Chen Yuyi's expression was toward him, he turned a blind eye to his son's actions.

The old masters were also alarmed. In their recollection, Bao Wu possessed tremendous strength, and they had witnessed with their own eyes the time he felled a raving boar in the fighting arena with a single punch. How could the Shen family's son-in-law, with his frail and slender frame, possibly withstand even one of his blows?

Some of the masters who wished to intercede were already too late. More of them shook their heads with sighs of regret. Of course, they did not believe Bao Wu would kill the Shen family's son-in-law, but they figured he would at least be spending a good while in the hospital. This son-in-law of the Shen family truly had no idea how to conduct himself. What manner of behavior was this, to come looking for someone in such a fashion, without the slightest trace of courtesy?

But the next scene made their jaws drop. The Shen family's son-in-law merely lifted a hand lightly, and Bao Wu's burly frame was sent flying through the air like a stalk of straw.

Everyone stood dumbfounded.

Bao Kui's eyes bulged wide as he stared at Chen Yuyi in utter disbelief. Was this truly the Shen family's son-in-law?

He hurried to Bao Wu's side to check whether he was still alive.

He felt for his breath and, knowing he had merely passed out, relaxed somewhat. But it was plain that several of Bao Wu's bones had been broken—there was even a chance he might be left permanently crippled. Seething with fury, he glared at Chen Yuyi. "Young Master-in-Law of the Shen family, what grudge do the Baos bear against you that you would strike with such merciless severity?"

The old masters nearby also furrowed their brows. They had not expected the Shen family's son-in-law to possess such martial prowess, nor had they expected him to be so utterly without restraint. This left them with the impression that the Shen family's son-in-law not only lacked any understanding of proper conduct, but was deaf to reason as well.

Chen Yuyi cast an indifferent glance at Bao Kui. "If an ordinary man had been standing before your son just now and had been hit by that punch of his, what do you suppose would have happened? Even if he did not die, he would have been left half-dead, spending the rest of his life bedridden. Why do you not ask yourself why your son struck with such ruthless force?"

The old masters were stunned as well. Reflecting on the scene just now, it was indeed true—Bao Wu had been the first to strike. That punch had plainly been thrown with his full strength. Had it landed on any one of them, it would likely have been exactly as the Shen family's son-in-law described.

With that in mind, the Shen family's son-in-law seemed to have shown considerable restraint. If it had been them, given their own tempers, had anyone dared to lay a hand on them like that, they would not have rested until the offender was dead.

Bao Kui's face reddened as well. He knew better than anyone what kind of force his son had put into that blow. At the same time, a note of wariness crept into his heart. Just who exactly was this son-in-law of the Shen family? With skill like this, he was already on par with a martial arts grandmaster. And he did not even seem to have exerted his full strength. How powerful was he, truly? Bao Kui had no way to gauge.

It was at this moment that the establishment's owner, having received word of the disturbance, arrived in person.

"Who is so insolent as to injure my people and barge in here?" The owner was a stunningly beautiful woman, dressed in a flowing robe of light silk, like a classical beauty who had stepped straight out of a painting.

Seeing the woman arrive, the old masters greeted her with great deference: "Miss Ye!"

Miss Ye gave the old masters a slight nod, then glanced at Bao Wu lying on the ground. Her slender brows arched subtly as she turned her gaze to Chen Yuyi. "You injured him?"

At this, Bao Kui stepped forward to Miss Ye and said, "Miss Ye, he is Master Shen's son-in-law. I told him Master Shen was not here, and when Wu'er tried to reason with him, he raised his hand against Wu'er."

The old masters found Bao Kui's twisting of the truth rather distasteful, but they could only shake their heads inwardly. This father and son seemed to share an unusual relationship with Miss Ye, so it was not their place to speak up. Besides, they had only come here for pleasure and had no wish to invite trouble upon themselves.

This Miss Ye had managed to build her establishment to such a scale, and the pleasure garden on River Island had been operating for so long—they had never once heard of anyone daring to cause trouble here. Even those of far higher standing than themselves who came to visit did not dare to treat Miss Ye with any lack of respect.

Thus, this woman was no ordinary figure. There were even whispers that she practiced certain Daoist arts, that she might very well be one of those who had truly entered the Way. So they dared not take her lightly. At the same time, they felt that with this woman's protection, they could indulge themselves here with peace of mind.

Chen Yuyi gave Bao Kui a cold look. This man daring to twist the truth before his very eyes was audacious in the extreme. It seemed he had been far too lenient with Bao Wu earlier—he ought to have slain him outright to establish his authority. But this father and son had once been saved by the Shen family's old patriarch, and killing them would not sit well with the Shen family's reputation. For now, he would spare their lives.

"So you are the Shen family's son-in-law. Master Shen is indeed not here at the moment. Young Master-in-Law, please turn back. Even the matter of your injury to Wu'er, I shall treat as though it never happened." Miss Ye spoke coldly, for she had already sensed that this man was no simple character—indeed, quite a difficult one to deal with—and so she was inclined to avoid stirring up trouble.

"Miss Ye..." Bao Kui protested, unwilling to let the matter drop.

But Miss Ye raised a hand to silence him.

Chen Yuyi looked at her, and suddenly thought of Ye Mei. This woman bore a striking resemblance to her, and he found himself pondering their connection.

Still, the fact that this woman dared to dismiss him so high-handedly also nettled him, so he returned her gaze with equal coldness.

The old masters standing off to the side could feel the atmosphere growing more and more strained, as if poised on the verge of violence. Master Miao could not help but step forward to mediate: "Young Master-in-Law of the Shen family, why don't we go have a few cups of wine first? Perhaps Master Shen will show up before long."

The other old masters chimed in as well, working to smooth things over.

"Young Master-in-Law Shen, since you have come all this way, if you are so inclined, you are welcome to have a drink or two in the front hall. As for Master Shen, I truly do not know where he is at this moment."

At this, Miss Ye's expression softened somewhat. After all, hers was a place of business—the best course was to avoid offending anyone if it could be helped. Moreover, this son-in-law of the Shen family gave her the distinct impression that he was not someone to be trifled with lightly, and so her attitude shifted a degree.

"Drinking is fine. But this man—today, he must pay a price for the words he has spoken!"

As he spoke, Chen Yuyi pointed a finger at Bao Kui.