"Young Master... please, save us..." "Young Master, we have all been wronged..." "Young Master, you must save us!"

Seeing the miserable state of the Ye family servants, witnessing their wretched appearance, and hearing their heartfelt pleas, Ye Jingyu felt an unbearable ache in his heart... This was all because of him, entirely his fault. If it weren't for him, how could Qin Yan have sought to wipe out the Ye family completely? If not for him, how could they have suffered such torment...

The self-reproach surging within him choked back the tears welling in his eyes. He couldn't cry, especially not in front of these servants. Before vengeance was exacted, he absolutely could not weep...

"All of you, stand up. Now that I am here, none of you will die. Xiaoyi, tell me, what exactly has happened these past days..." Ye Jingyu suppressed the sorrow in his chest, speaking with intense indignation, and personally helped the Lin Xiaoyi standing before him to rise...

Lin Xiaoyi stood up through his tears, and the other servants rose weeping as well. They formed a circle, one after another recounting everything that had transpired in recent days...

It turned out that after the rebellion broke out at White Cloud Manor, the Imperial Army advanced triumphantly, breaking through all resistance like a hot knife through butter. Ye Fugui, worried about his son, secretly sent men up the mountain, hoping to notify Ye Jingyu. However, at that time, White Cloud Manor did not allow outsiders to ascend...

Later, no one knew how, but White Cloud Mountain Stronghold fell within a few days. Qin Xuan, the Lord of White Cloud Manor, along with the other major elders, were all slain. The rest were either killed or surrendered to the court. The sons of the great landlords were the first to pledge allegiance to the court, thus narrowly escaping catastrophe...

But afterward, Qin Yan survived and was granted the title of Marquis of White Cloud by the Sovereign Lord, tasked with eradicating the remnants of White Cloud Manor. Ye Fugui was initially delighted; after all, he had privately sent a generous gift to Qin Yan, so the Ye Estate should have been safe. But who would have thought that Qin Yan would target the Ye family first, denying Ye Fugui any chance to argue, and instead condemning him on charges of sedition...

The direct and collateral relatives of the Ye family, totaling three hundred and sixty-seven people, were all executed. All Ye family assets were confiscated. The female servants were sold to the brothels, while the males were either killed or sold as slaves. In short, almost overnight, the Ye Estate, once famous throughout Ninglang County, completely vanished from the face of the earth...

Only Lin Xiaoyi and these few others remained imprisoned here. Apparently, because his constitution was too frail, he didn't even qualify for servitude; he was scheduled to be executed in a few days...

After listening to Lin Xiaoyi's narration, the rage in Ye Jingyu’s heart flared like the core fires of the earth. Although he had anticipated this outcome, hearing it firsthand was an entirely different sensation...

Over a thousand people from the Ye family—killed, sold, or imprisoned...

The entire reason was simply because he had offended Qin Yan...(For full text novel reading, visit .1.(1.m.novel.website)) Offended Qin Yan over a mere trifle? What kind of justice was this?

Punishing the entire Ye Estate because of one person's actions. Qin Yan, how ruthless can your heart be...

Qin Yan, if I do not kill you, I swear I shall not be human...

Forcing down the fury in his heart, Ye Jingyu secretly made his vow. He truly had not imagined Qin Yan would commit such atrocities, nor that the Ye family, such a grand lineage, could be destroyed so swiftly...

The thought that he hadn't even seen Ye Fugui one last time felt like a knife twisting in his heart...

Father, I will avenge you. I will certainly avenge you...

"Wait for me here. I will get you out immediately..." Ye Jingyu spoke softly to the servants before him, who were utterly broken by their ordeal. It was he who had failed them...

Hearing Ye Jingyu’s words, joy bloomed on their faces—the joy of being granted life...

Ignoring their expressions, Ye Jingyu walked directly to Commander Meng Baihu. Without any preamble, he stated plainly, "Brother Meng, I wish to purchase these people as slaves. How much will that cost?"

"Brother Ye, this..." Commander Meng Baihu showed a troubled look. As a Centurion of the Cloud Guard, even without questioning Ye Jingyu, he vaguely guessed the connection between Ye Jingyu and the Ye Estate. By the letter of his duty, he should have arrested Ye Jingyu immediately. But someone who could command the respect of a General like Chen Qi was certainly not someone easily dealt with merely through wealth; he must have some powerful backer. Moreover, the Ye family incident was widely regarded as a miscarriage of justice, and even the Sovereign Lord did not wish to stir up too much trouble over it. Consequently, Meng Baihu was disinclined to arrest Ye Jingyu. However, squeezing a little profit from him would certainly be welcome...

"Is this enough?" Ye Jingyu directly produced a pouch and handed it to Commander Meng Baihu...

Taking the pouch, Commander Meng Baihu held it up to the dim light of the jailhouse. His eyes immediately turned green...

Diamonds the size of a thumb, gemstones as large as a fist, and flawless agate—even Flame Crystals, which were unheard of in the Shu Yun Kingdom. If all this were released onto the market, it would be worth at least ten thousand gold. This wealth was enough for a lifetime of luxury...

"Enough, more than enough! Brother Ye, you can take these people right now," Commander Meng Baihu stammered, trembling slightly. In his entire life, he had never seen such wealth. To trade some condemned slaves for such riches—even a fool would agree...

"Thank you, Brother Meng. Xiu, help them remove the shackles and chains. Let's go," Ye Jingyu said, offering a cupped-fist salute to Commander Meng Baihu, and then turning to Chi Yixiu...

Chi Yixiu nodded, stepped into the center of the group of servants, and under their bewildered gaze, casually seized the thumb-thick iron chains. Without apparent effort, a gentle tug was all it took, and the chains snapped apart strand by strand, as easily as hair...

Such immense strength instantly astonished everyone. Even Commander Meng Baihu’s eyes widened. Fortunately...

Fortunately... he hadn't acted rashly, or he might have been torn to pieces by this man...

After Chi Yixiu broke every chain one by one using sheer brute force instead of keys, Ye Jingyu bowed once more to Commander Meng Baihu and led his entourage out of the prison...

The Ye family servants, granted a return to daylight, were naturally ecstatic. Looking at these men filled with gratitude towards him, Ye Jingyu felt even deeper guilt...

"What are your plans now?" Ye Jingyu asked softly...

"Ah..." Upon hearing Ye Jingyu's question, the servants were struck by sudden confusion. They had been Ye family servants since childhood, obeying the Ye family's orders. But now that the Ye Estate was gone, they had no idea what they should do...

"This terrible turn of events has befallen the Ye family; we owe you an apology. Here is some money; take it and make your own way," seeing their bewildered looks, Ye Jingyu sighed under his breath. He took out another ten small, finger-sized gems from his robes. These gems were enough for them to establish themselves... too much, and it would only invite disaster...

The servants glanced at each other, then simultaneously knelt before Ye Jingyu, bowing their heads deeply three times in homage. They then rose in an orderly fashion, approaching Ye Jingyu one by one, each respectfully thanking the Young Master before taking a small gem and walking off in different directions...

Having endured this immense upheaval, they all hoped only for a peaceful life...

Watching them bow to him, Ye Jingyu, though deeply distressed, said nothing more. He only hoped their hearts could find peace and that they could live tranquilly from now on...

Finally, when everyone else had departed, only Lin Xiaoyi remained standing on the vast open area. Seeing Lin Xiaoyi still there, Ye Jingyu spoke gently, "Xiaoyi, here are two more gems. Take them, find a wife, and live a good life..."

"Young Master... I won't go anywhere. Just let me follow you," unexpectedly, Lin Xiaoyi abruptly knelt down and declared with firm resolve...

"Xiaoyi, following me will be fraught with peril. It might attract a death sentence at any moment," Ye Jingyu began to explain the dangers of remaining with him, but Lin Xiaoyi cut him off directly...

"Young Master, Xiaoyi grew up in the Ye family, benefiting from the Master’s kindness—he fed me, clothed me, and even hired a private tutor to give me a name. He always kept me by your side. Xiaoyi belongs to the Ye family in life and will be a ghost of the Ye family in death. Regardless of the danger or the hardship, please, Young Master, do not abandon Xiaoyi," Lin Xiaoyi pleaded, banging his head forcefully against the ground until drops of blood beaded on his forehead...

Seeing Lin Xiaoyi’s unwavering resolve, Ye Jingyu wanted to say he was no longer his Young Master, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he reached out and helped Lin Xiaoyi up...

"If that is your will, then we shall go together..."

"Thank you, Young Master," upon hearing Ye Jingyu agree, Lin Xiaoyi bowed deeply once more before scrambling up quickly, a look of pure satisfaction spreading across his face. However, the snot and tears only made his already filthy little face dirtier...

But to Ye Jingyu’s eyes, all of this looked utterly precious...

Xiaoyi, from this day forward, you will be the closest person to me. As long as I live, I will never allow anyone to bully you again...

A fighting spirit rose from the depths of Ye Jingyu’s heart, and a killing intent bloomed from his very soul...

Qin Yan... you just wait...

Yunjing... here I come...