Chapter 52: Commotion
As Ye Wenjie's voice faded, the entire establishment fell into deep silence. The quiet lasted only a moment before the tavern exploded with excited discussion:
"Isn't that Young Master Wenjie?"
"By the heavens, did he just mention Su Tianhao?"
"That infamous Su Tianhao is here?"
"I wonder what he's done this time to offend Young Master Wenjie."
"I was just feeling bored. We're in for an interesting show tonight!"
Su Tianhao, who hadn't lifted his gaze even once since Ye Wenjie's arrival, couldn't help but spare a quick glance at the man. Though he'd heard much about Ye Wenjie's reputation, this was his first time actually laying eyes on him.
His golden eyes narrowed as they scanned Ye Wenjie's figure—lean but graceful build, green and gold robes, a charming face that radiated natural charisma. But the smile wasn't genuine. It was a perfectly mastered facade. His slanted eyes carried deeper, more layered meanings—manipulation and hidden cruelty beneath that calm surface.
Most wouldn't notice the subtle signs. But who was Su Tianhao? He possessed the combined memories of two legendary immortal figures, and with the recent unlocking of the second layer of his inherited memories, his insight had sharpened far beyond the ordinary. To him, Ye Wenjie's carefully masked nature was as clear as an open book.
"So that is Ye Wenjie," Su Tianhao murmured under his breath, a slight frown creasing his brow. "What a complete snake."
If not for his vast inherited insight, even he might have been fooled. There was something genuinely dangerous about this man's manipulative aura—far different from the straightforward arrogance he'd sensed from Su Jian.
But Su Tianhao wasn't intimidated. When he'd scanned Ye Wenjie, he'd also perfectly probed his cultivation base.
'4th level Martial Disciple,' he noted calmly. 'But with someone like him, it's not the cultivation I should be wary of—it's the schemes.'
Just then, the tavern doors creaked open once more and two figures inside.
One was a young man with sharp, hawk-like eyes—the same youth who had quietly shadowed Su Tianhao earlier. Beside him walked a wretched-looking young man, with deathly pale face and eyes blazing with unmistakable hatred.
Ye Jianping.
Striding forward with dramatic flair, Ye Jianping stopped beside Ye Wenjie and offered a slight bow. "Young Master, there's no need to waste your precious time—"
He turned sharply and pointed toward the far end of the room.
"That's Su Tianhao over there!"
The moment Ye Jianping's words died, all heads turned in Su Tianhao's direction. Countless gazes fell upon him, filled with varying emotions—surprise, curiosity, disdain, even pity. Yet his golden eyes remained calm, terrifyingly so, as he met every stare without flinching.
"So that's Su Tianhao..."
"He doesn't look anything like the rumors described."
"That's not the bearing of someone they call 'trash'..."
"Hmph! Doesn't change the fact he awakened trash talent. Probably got lucky with some pills and thinks he's strong now."
"Who cares about talent?" A sultry voice rang out—a female mercenary with heavy makeup, her eyes roaming boldly across Su Tianhao's form. "With that face and body... he's worth a fortune in other ways than talent."
A heavy silence fell over the tavern.
Several people exchanged disturbed glances, seemingly speechless.
Su Tianhao's lips twitched involuntarily at being looked over like a piece of meat.
"This is not the kind of attention I wanted," he muttered with a bitter smile.
Seeing Su Tianhao's presence begin to outshine his own, Ye Wenjie's expression darkened slightly—quickly masked behind a charming smile.
"So you're the infamous Su Tianhao," he said, voice calm and friendly, as if no hostility existed between them whatsoever. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Su Tianhao didn't even bother sparing him a glance. Instead, he turned to Ye Jianping with a mocking smile. "I see you finally brought your mother to fight for you. I was expecting it—but I never thought you'd move so fast."
Ye Wenjie's expression darkened immediately. Even worse than being ignored was the underlying insult in those words—he understood perfectly well that he was being referred to as "mother." His slanted eyes narrowed to dangerous slits, a forced smile plastered across his features as visible veins bulged at his temples.
"Su Tianhao! How dare you!" Ye Jianping shouted, face flushing red with embarrassment and burning anger.
Su Tianhao looked at him with calm eyes. "Am I wrong?" he said flatly. "You were defeated by me, yet you couldn't accept your loss like a man. Now you come crying to your young master for revenge? Shameless!"
His words rang through the tavern like a resounding slap.
Murmurs broke out immediately as the surrounding crowd finally began piece the pieces together—Su Tianhao had defeated Ye Jianping in combat, and instead of accepting it, Ye Jianping had brought his young master to settle the score.
Everyone turned to Ye Jianping with strange expressions.
"I heard this Ye Jianping is at the 1st level of Martial Disciple Realm with four-star talent..."
"And he was defeated by Su Tianhao? The so-called trash?"
"No wonder he couldn't accept it. To admit defeat to someone he considers beneath him... how ironic."
"But how is that even possible? Isn't Su Tianhao only a 9th level Martial Apprentice?"
"Maybe he's already broken through to the Martial Disciple Realm!"
Ye Jianping's wretched appearance and pale face served as living evidence. The atmosphere shifted dramatically—curious gazes turned toward Su Tianhao, now carrying traces of respect and wariness. Some attempted to probe his cultivation with their spiritual perception, but their senses bounced off him like water off stone.
"I can't sense anything."
"Me neither. It's like my perception just slid right off."
Su Tianhao remained unmoved, slowly lifting his wine cup with a faint smile.
'Trying to probe my cultivation?' he sneered inwardly. 'Are you worthy?'
Ye Jianping was utterly humiliated. At that moment, he wished the ground would open and swallow him whole. Even the two maids behind Ye Wenjie and the hawk-eyed youth were now glancing at him with odd, almost pitying expressions.
"SU! TIAN! HAO!" Ye Jianping growled through gritted teeth, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned bone-white. In his mind, everything—this shame, this embarrassment, this fall—was Su Tianhao's fault. He didn't just hate him. He loathed him. This was undoubtedly the most humiliating moment of his entire life.
"Why so quiet?" Su Tianhao's voice rang out—calm and steady, carrying a faint undertone of mockery.
Ye Jianping trembled visibly—fury and shame warring visibly across his features. He managed only to point a shaking finger at Su Tianhao, face flushed like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
"Heh," Su Tianhao pressed on without mercy.
"I always knew you were shameless," he said coldly, golden eyes glinting. "But this... this is beyond shameless. It's pathetic!"
His voice, quiet but biting, carried clearly through the tavern.
Hiss—!
The crowd collectively sucked in a breath.
"Such a sharp tongue!"
Ye Jianping's eyes turned bloodshot. He could no longer contain it—his rage erupted as he lunged at Su Tianhao, fingers shaped into claws, ready to strike with lethal intent.
But before he could get far—
Snap!
A firm hand grabbed his arm mid-charge and yanked him back forcefully.
Ye Jianping spun around, madness burning in his eyes, prepared to lash out at whoever dared stop him. The moment he saw who it was, his anger froze completely.
Ye Wenjie.
Instantly, his pale face turned ashen. His surging aura dispersed like mist under the sun, replaced by cold sweat sliding down his spine.
"Y-Young Master, I—" Ye Jianping stammered, throat tightening.
Ye Wenjie's expression remained serene, but the gleam in his slanted eyes was absolutely chilling. "Jianping," he said softly, each word laced with icy weight, "haven't you embarrassed me enough?"
His tone was calm—eerily so. Those who knew him well would recognize the danger hidden beneath that still surface. Ye Wenjie prized his reputation above all else. As his subordinate, Ye Jianping's disgrace directly reflecting upon him.
"I-I'm sorry, Young Master! I let my emotions get the better of me!" Ye Jianping bowed deeply, voice shaking with genuine apology.
Ye Wenjie's smile returned—gentle, forgiving, as if nothing had happened. "I am a benevolent young man," he said warmly, loud enough for all to hear. "Since you've realized your mistake, I won't pursue it further."
"Thank you, Young Master!" Ye Jianping bowed again, relief washing over him.
To the bystanders, Ye Wenjie's restraint only elevated his image further.
"The Young Master is too merciful," one of the maids said softly, pressing a hand over her beating heart, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
The other flushed deeply, her silence saying more than words could.
The hawk-eyed youth smiled faintly, his chest swelling with pride.
The patrons nodded with approval.
"Such an outstanding young man—talented, high status, and surprisingly humble."
"Prodigies with such a compassionate heart are rare in this generation."
"Certainly not something Su Tianhao or even Su Jian could ever hope to compare to."
Su Tianhao, still seated by the window, observed the shift in atmosphere with quiet, analytical focus. He was genuinely impressed by how Ye Wenjie had masterfully twisted the situation—turning what should have been a blow to his image into a flawless display of grace and control.
'This person is even more of a snake than I initially thought,' he concluded. 'Truly dangerous.'
Ye Wenjie turned toward Su Tianhao with a smug smile—one that only Su Tianhao could properly read. Their eyes met across the tavern.
"Hmm..." Su Tianhao's golden eyes flashed with cold light. There was something in that smile that screamed danger.
Ye Wenjie chuckled softly and began strolling toward Su Tianhao's table with practiced leisure, hands clasped behind his back, chin slightly raised. The low chatter in the tavern died down with every deliberate step he took.
"You're surprisingly composed," he remarked. "I expected someone bold enough to challenge Su Jian to look... more desperate."
A few patrons chuckled under their breath.
"As expected of Young Master Wenjie—so calm and collected."
"Even so, he still chooses to stand up for Ye Jianping. A man who knows how to defend his own."
Su Tianhao ignored the chatter. "Desperate?" he said coolly. "And yet here you are—coming to lecture me about desperation on his behalf."
"Oh!"
Sharp gasps rippled through the room.
Ye Wenjie's smile didn't fade, but a cold glint flashed briefly in his slanted eyes. He stopped a few steps from Su Tianhao's table, letting the silence stretch deliberately.
"You've got a sharp tongue," he said, voice smooth as silk. "But let's see if it still works when you're spitting blood."
Another collective gasp swept through the tavern, more pronounced this time.
"Hahahaha!" Su Tianhao's laughter was sudden and abrupt—loud and clear, startling everyone present. "I wonder where you get your confidence from."
Ye Wenjie frowned slightly at the mocking laughter, a distinct unease creeping up his spine.
As the laughter died down, Su Tianhao gestured casually at the empty chair across from him. "If you've come all this way to put on a show, you might as well take a seat."
Ye Wenjie gave a small, calculated laugh. "How generous of you." His smile abruptly shifted—replaced by a solemn, grave expression. "But no. I prefer to stand when I deliver judgment."
Hiss!
Whispers surged among the patrons.
"Is he going to fight?"
"Not here—not in the Ye family's tavern..."
"But this tension... It's intense!"
"Judgment?" Su Tianhao said with mild amusement. "Judgment for defeating your useless followers? Judgment for hurting your selfish pride?"
He glanced toward Ye Jianping from the corner of his eye. "Did you even bother asking your dog why he barked—or do you just bite on impulse?"
A wave of shock swept through the onlookers, their expressions now carrying a stern seriousness.
"How dare he talk to the Young Master like that!" one of the maids said angrily, biting her lip.
"This Su Tianhao is too arrogant!" the other added, her usual composure cracking.
The hawk-eyed youth clenched his fists. "What an arrogant bastard."
Ye Jianping, however, was inwardly pleased. After being reprimanded by Ye Wenjie earlier, he'd learned to control his outward anger. 'Now that he's blatantly insulted the Young Master, there's no way he walks away from this,' he thought with vicious satisfaction. 'In the Young Master's eyes, Su Tianhao has become a sworn enemy.'
Ye Wenjie was undoubtedly the most affected. Veins bulged visibly at his temples as his carefully maintained calm began to crumble. He no longer tried to hide his anger—the air around him shifted, no longer light and playful but heavy and quietly suffocating.
"Finally showing your true colors," Su Tianhao murmured, golden eyes sparkling with sharp, knowing light.
"Su Tianhao." Ye Wenjie's voice dropped cold and hard. "I didn't come here to banter. I came to deliver justice. You not only humiliated two members of my Ye family—you sinner of the Heavenly dao—cultivator of demonic technique."