Chapter 71: 0073: I Have No Other Intentions (Third Update – Votes Requested)

Upon returning to the Ye family estate, Chu Yun was immediately greeted by the sight of a fleet of luxurious hovering carriages parked outside. Noticing the Jiang City license plates, he guessed that Hou Yaodong and his companions had arrived.

Sure enough, as soon as he stepped inside, he saw Yi Jifeng and Hou Yaodong rise from their seats, smiling as they hurried to greet him.

“Good day, Young Master Chu.”

Chu Yun noticed Yi Jifeng’s slight nervousness and chose not to respond. He first went to change into his school uniform and, only after coming back downstairs, took a seat.

Hou Yaodong approached first, placing an assortment of boxes on the table with a cheerful grin. “These are the medicinal herbs you asked me to find. I’ve managed to gather them all.”

Glancing over the boxes, Chu Yun asked, “You must have had to shop at the black market for some of these, right?”

“It’s a rare honor to be of service to you, sir. The cost is nothing worth mentioning,” Hou Yaodong replied with a smile.

“I appreciate your effort,” Chu Yun said, his tone revealing genuine concern for the herbs. After all, these were essential for treating his mother. Once he had verified that nothing was missing, he looked up and said to Hou Yaodong, “I’ll be sure to inform the old man.”

“Of course,” Hou Yaodong responded, stepping back to his seat.

At that moment, Yi Jifeng carefully approached as well, holding out several ornate gift boxes with a flattering smile. “Young Master Chu, I’ve come today to offer my apologies.”

“Oh?” Chu Yun feigned ignorance. “And what are you apologizing for?”

“It concerns the Cao family,” Yi Jifeng admitted awkwardly. “We’ve investigated, and it was entirely Tianxing’s doing. We never imagined he could be so petty, still bearing a grudge over the previous matter. If we’d known, we would never have allowed him to commit such a heinous act.”

With a look of righteous indignation, Yi Jifeng continued, “This incident has brought irreparable harm to you and the Ye family. Our clan leader is deeply ashamed to have such a member among us, and we will never shield anyone who does wrong.”

“Young Master Chu, please see for yourself!”

With that, Yi Jifeng opened one of the boxes. Inside was the shriveled, pale head of Yi Tianxing.

Ye Zhenhuan took it in stride, but both Madam Ye and Ye Linglong were startled by the ghastly sight. Even the Ye brothers standing nearby hadn’t expected the Yi family to go so far as to deal with one of their own.

Yet, they understood this was done out of fear and respect for the Chu family’s elders.

“Are you certain only Yi Tianxing was involved in this?” Chu Yun suddenly asked, fixing Yi Jifeng with a cold stare.

Yi Jifeng’s body trembled. For some reason, Chu Yun’s smile unsettled him, as if those eyes could see straight through him.

Seeing his ashen face, Chu Yun suddenly chuckled. “I accept your apology. But what about the compensation?”

“These,” Yi Jifeng replied, relieved, quickly presenting a dozen exquisitely crafted gold boxes. “Twelve bottles of intermediate Body-Forging Elixir as our token of apology from the Yi family to you and the Ye family, along with these rare antiques. And this card—there’s one hundred million gold coins for Young Master Wuwei’s medical bills and recovery.”

Chu Yun accepted the card and handed it to Wuwei.

Ye Wuwei hesitated, hardly daring to take a card worth so much.

“If your brother-in-law tells you to take it, then do as he says,” Madam Ye admonished.

“Thank you, brother-in-law,” Ye Wuwei said, bowing as he took the card. Returning to his place, he gazed at it in awe, feeling a greater sense of reverence for Chu Yun.

Chu Yun examined the Body-Forging Elixirs and placed them beside Ye Linglong. “There’s only a month until the Martial Assembly. You should use these.”

Ye Linglong was momentarily stunned. These were intermediate Body-Forging Elixirs. Each bottle was worth over a million—a luxury only the Duanmu family would lavish on their heir.

She gazed long at Chu Yun, feeling conflicted and unable to understand him. He had stood up to Duanmu Ci and the Cui family, yet he’d chosen to avoid confrontation with the Caos. And now, he was being so generous toward her. Why? If he didn’t care, why bother?

“These are too valuable. You should keep them for yourself,” Ye Linglong said through gritted teeth, her tone stubborn as she looked at him.

Chu Yun chuckled softly and turned to Yi Jifeng. “It seems the Ye family isn’t entirely satisfied with your gifts. What do you propose?”

Yi Jifeng’s expression changed, caught off guard, and he looked to the Ye family and Ye Linglong with a forced smile. “Miss Ye, if it’s not enough, we can send more. Just tell us how much more you require.”

Ye Linglong was momentarily speechless. She had only been venting her frustration at Chu Yun, not expecting him to so deftly redirect the dissatisfaction. Seeing Yi Jifeng’s humbled demeanor, she didn’t want to take advantage.

“There’s no need, Mr. Yi. That’s not what I meant,” Ye Linglong replied awkwardly.

“Then perhaps you don’t care for Body-Forging Elixirs? I can arrange for different gifts as compensation,” Yi Jifeng offered.

“No, it’s not that,” Ye Linglong said, at a loss. With a helpless smile, she conceded, “I do like them. I’ll accept.”

Chu Yun addressed Yi Jifeng, “Very well, that settles the matter.”

Yi Jifeng nodded. “In that case…”

“Oh, I’ll inform the old man,” Chu Yun added. “He’s not as difficult as people think—he’s actually quite reasonable.”

“So it seems,” Yi Jifeng and Hou Yaodong replied with polite smiles, though inwardly they dared not agree. Not difficult? The old man had killed over a dozen top experts from the Cao family on the spot! If anything, he was known for his ruthlessness and silence. Rumor had it he’d even confronted the president of the Magicians’ Guild.

“Well, if that’s all, I have other matters to attend to,” Chu Yun said, rising and gathering up the herbs before leaving the parlor.

Hou Yaodong and Yi Jifeng stood as if to speak, but thought better of it and held their tongues.

As Chu Yun stepped out of the Ye family estate, Ye Linglong hurried after him.

“Take these back. There were outsiders present just now, and I couldn’t refuse you directly,” she said, extending the bag of elixirs. “Remember our engagement agreement: you are you, and I am me. Whatever the Ye family owes the Chu family, I’ll spend my life repaying. But I don’t need your kindness out of pity. Please, give me some dignity. Let’s just act as we always have, all right?”

Chu Yun understood her meaning. The Ye family’s current misfortune was clear, and while she was grateful to both the Chu family and Chu Yun, she was still proud at heart.

He nodded. “I have no intention of undermining your dignity, nor is my help meant as charity to the Ye family. I’m simply repaying a debt of gratitude—nothing more. That’s just who I am: if someone treats me well, I return that kindness tenfold, a hundredfold.”

“As for these, I don’t need them. You should use them,” he said, glancing at the bag in her hand. “And if you’re worried that I’ll expect anything in return, you can set your mind at ease. I have no other motive. I respect our agreement.”

With a gentle, harmless smile, Chu Yun turned and walked away.

Ye Linglong stood there, watching his retreating figure, feeling a strange sense of distance, as if they were mere strangers passing by. For reasons she couldn’t explain, her heart felt inexplicably heavy.