Master Li Yun's arrival at Ye Manor left everyone in the Ye family feeling immensely honored.
Ye Ao had already stepped forward, cupping his fists with a hearty laugh. "Master Li Yun, what an honor, truly an honor. We never expected you to grace our humble abode with your presence. It truly brings radiance to our Ye family."
The three Elders all wore amiable expressions, their faces showing not the slightest trace of arrogance or impatience, only deep respect.
"Greetings, Master Li Yun!"
Behind them, the assembled Ye clansmen all respectfully bowed and saluted, greeting Master Li Yun, not daring to show the slightest neglect.
Among the younger generation of clansmen, most looked upon Master Li Yun with a gaze filled with awe and envy.
An alchemist was a truly esteemed figure, someone of great importance no matter the time or place, a being even more revered than a Xiantian realm expert, rarely seen in ordinary times.
No one had expected that this Master Li Yun would personally visit today. Although the reason was unknown, it was honor enough.
Of those present, only Ye Chen did not bow in salute. He merely looked at Master Li Yun from a distance, giving a faint, indifferent nod, showing not a shred of respect.
Master Li Yun trembled slightly, immediately realizing that this Ye Chen was the contact person for the mysterious black-robed Mister Qian he sought. A look of joy appeared on his face.
However, no one noticed this. Seeing Ye Chen not bowing or saluting, Ye Zhengyang, who was deliberately looking for trouble, would never let such an opportunity slip. His face instantly turned cold as he reprimanded, "Ye Chen, you good-for-nothing, what kind of behavior is this? You see Master Li Yun and don't hurry to pay your respects? What are you just standing there for?"
Faced with Ye Zhengyang's deliberate provocation and troublemaking, Ye Chen furrowed his sword-like brows. "Noisy!"
Ye Zhengyang's face flushed red with anger, but mindful of Master Li Yun's presence, he dared not vent his rage. He merely shot Ye Chen a fierce glare, suppressing the fury in his heart to deal with him properly another day.
The other clansmen were quite astonished. Although Ye Chen was a freak, his audacity was truly immense. Couldn't he see Master Li Yun was still here? To act so arrogantly and conceitedly—was he not afraid of death?
The Grand Elder timely spoke up, smiling as he said, "Master Li Yun, please do not take offense. The few of us elders were just about to conduct a family trial for this little beast. If we have been neglectful, please forgive us."
"Enough!" Ye Ao shouted, glaring at the three Elders with a cold snort. "You three old fellows have gone far enough. 'Little beast' this, 'little beast' that—you've truly crossed the line."
But the Third Elder sneered. "There's no crossing the line or not. We are merely stating facts."
"Oh?" Master Li Yun looked at Ye Chen with surprise and curiosity. "Might this be Ye Chen?"
Everyone was taken aback. They hadn't expected Master Li Yun to know this good-for-nothing. The Grand Elder hurriedly said, "Master, you are correct. He is Ye Chen. If he has offended you in any way, please speak up. Our Ye family will definitely deal with it severely. Even if he is the clan leader's own son, we will not let him off easily. You can rest assured."
Instead of answering, Master Li Yun asked with interest, "I wonder what exactly Ye Chen has done?"
Although surprised by Master Li Yun's inquiry, the three Elders still answered with full courtesy, recounting all the charges previously decided upon. At the end, they added, "Master Li Yun, please rest assured, we will definitely deal with Ye Chen severely."
"Deal with?" At this, Ye Chen let out a cold laugh, sweeping his gaze over them. "You three old fellows have also gone far enough. Since when are my crimes whatever you say they are?"
"Hmph, Ye Ao, your good-for-nothing son truly lacks upbringing. Can't you see we elders are entertaining a guest? How can a junior like him be allowed to interrupt?" The Grand Elder snorted coldly, adding another charge against Ye Chen.
"Have you said enough?" Ye Chen cast a faint glance at the Grand Elder, speaking nonchalantly. "If you're done, then shut up. Can't you see a guest is present? Spouting nonsense left and right—what kind of behavior is that? And you're the family's Grand Elder? I think all your years have been lived in vain."
Stunned!
Everyone was stunned. Ye Chen's demeanor, his expression—it was clearly that of an elder reprimanding a junior, completely reversing their respective statuses.
What was this? Who was the elder here, and who was the junior?
"You—" The Grand Elder's face was filled with rage, about to teach Ye Chen a lesson. However, the latter paid him no mind. Instead, he addressed Master Li Yun, "Li Yun, you've finally come. Have you brought the medicinal herbs Mister Qian requested?"
Oh no!
Everyone in the hall changed expressions. Who was Master Li Yun? An alchemist, lofty and exalted, of noble status. Even someone like Ye Ao, the city lord, wouldn't dare offend him casually, nor would he dare address him by name directly. For Ye Chen to call him by name with such disrespectful attitude—didn't he know he would offend Master Li Yun?
What would be the consequences of offending an alchemist? It was simply unimaginable.
Even the opposing three Elders broke out in a cold sweat. Ye Ao hurriedly stepped forward, forcing a laugh to plead, "Master Li Yun, please do not take offense. My son merely spoke without thinking…"
But before he could finish, the next scene left him and everyone else dumbfounded. They saw that Master Li Yun's expression showed not the slightest displeasure. On the contrary, he nodded, smiling modestly and amiably. "Young Friend Ye Chen, this old man has gathered some of the medicinal herbs. The remaining portion requires a return to the royal capital to purchase. For now, I intend to hand over a portion to Mister Qian first."
Dumbfounded!
Those present were dumbfounded, utterly dumbfounded.
What in the world was going on? Being addressed by name by a junior, yet Master Li Yun didn't seem the least bit annoyed. On the contrary, he wore a genuine, beaming smile. Everyone was struggling to process this.
Weren't alchemists supposed to be extremely proud?
Ye Chen, acting as if no one else was present, said, "Just give them to me. I'll pass them on to Mister Qian."
"Very well." Master Li Yun nodded. The three attendants behind him hurriedly presented the three precious jade boxes they had brought. When opened, everyone couldn't help but gasp in astonishment, their eyes gleaming with brilliance.
Each jade box contained spiritual herbs exuding rich medicinal fragrance—all truly precious and invaluable spiritual medicines, and their medicinal age was not low.
It could be said that the value of these spiritual herbs was no less than tens of thousands of gold coins. Even for the entire Ye family, this was a massive fortune.
Ye Chen gave them a simple glance. "Not bad. The medicinal age is mature, not tender. The surfaces are undamaged. Preserved in jade boxes, keeping the spiritual energy contained without leakage—very well preserved. This can maintain the success rate of alchemy. Very good. I will relay this to Mister Qian."
Master Li Yun looked at Ye Chen in surprise. He had originally thought Ye Chen was merely a trusted intermediary for that Mister Qian. But this discernment and knowledge of alchemy astonished him; it was truly extraordinary.
However, compared to Li Yun's surprise, the others were even more shocked as they looked at Ye Chen. Why would Master Li Yun give these precious herbs worth tens of thousands of gold coins to Ye Chen? And who exactly was this so-called Mister Qian?
For the first time, everyone felt that Ye Chen seemed countless times more mysterious than the usual impression of a good-for-nothing.
Yet the things that shocked them were far from over. The next moment, Master Li Yun said, "Young Friend Ye Chen, I wonder if the Purple Pattern Gold Card is in your possession?"
Ye Chen directly took out the Purple Pattern Gold Card. "What is it?"
Looking at that gold card shimmering with golden light and bearing a purple pattern, everyone was stunned. Wasn't that the legendary Purple Pattern Gold Card, which only a select few were qualified to possess?
This was a mysterious gold card that couldn't necessarily be obtained even with money. Its overdraft limit alone could reach a hundred thousand gold coins, and it represented a symbol of status.
Even Ye Ao didn't possess such a Purple Pattern Gold Card. Where had Ye Chen gotten his from?
The more they thought about it, the more astonishing Ye Chen became.
"As expected, Mister Qian has entrusted the Purple Pattern Gold Card to you." Li Yun wasn't surprised at all. On the contrary, it seemed perfectly reasonable, because the various displays from this youth before him were enough to turn heads. He must be someone trusted by the mysterious Mister Qian.
He took out another Purple Pattern Gold Card and swiped it against the one in Ye Chen's hand. A golden light flashed, merging into the latter's card. Li Yun said, "Young Friend Ye Chen, please inform Mister Qian that today, I, Li, must return to the royal capital to purchase the other spiritual herbs and will temporarily not be in Luo Feng City. I just transferred a hundred thousand gold coins—it's for Mister Qian's urgent needs. If Mister Qian has time, he can come to the royal capital to find me, Li. I will certainly receive him well."
A hundred thousand gold coins!?
The rest of Li Yun's words were ignored by everyone, but "a hundred thousand gold coins" exploded in their ears like thunder, their eyes widening in shock.