Chapter Eight: The Ye Family Villa

Chapter Eight: The Ye Family Villa

Noon soon arrived. As Shi Bai ate his lunch, he waited for someone to call him about the job opening, but unfortunately, not a single call came through. Shi Bai wore a look of bewilderment. “How could this be? The conditions are so generous, why hasn’t anyone applied?”

Soon, the school day ended. A Land Rover pulled up at the school gate. In this day and age, and in this ancient city, anyone who could afford a Land Rover was certainly not from an ordinary family.

“Young Miss.” A man in a suit opened the car door for Ye Ying’er, who climbed in first. “Open the door for him as well,” she instructed.

“Yes, Miss!” The man opened the door for Shi Bai as well.

Shi Bai got in, and instantly a commotion erupted behind him. “Damn! Shi Bai really does know Ye Ying’er!”

“Could they be dating?”

“No way! Shi Bai’s family just sells fruit. Why would Ye Ying’er be interested in him?”

“Exactly! You can tell at a glance that Ye Ying’er is a wealthy heiress.”

Sitting in the car, Shi Bai smiled faintly. “A wealthy heiress? In this life, you could be worth ten times more and I still wouldn’t care.”

The car soon drove into the villa district of Wanshui. Clearly, only the rich and powerful could live here; even in these times, a house in this area would cost at least ten million.

“Yes, Grandfather, we’re almost there.” Ye Ying’er suddenly made a call as the car headed up the mountainside.

Shi Bai couldn’t help but be surprised. A villa on the hillside—this was the most expensive property in Wanshui! It seemed Ye Rulong’s status was indeed extraordinary.

Two security guards at the gate hurriedly opened the heavy iron doors as the car arrived. As soon as Shi Bai stepped out, he saw the elderly Ye Rulong approaching with a beaming smile.

“Ah, young sir, your presence brings such honor to our humble home!” Ye Rulong grasped Shi Bai’s hand warmly.

Shi Bai shook his hand politely. “You’re too kind, Elder Ye. It’s an honor for me to be here.”

Ye Rulong laughed heartily and brought forward a middle-aged man. This man was tall and powerfully built, his eyes sharp and muscles taut, moving with the agility of a trained fighter. His features bore a strong resemblance to Ye Rulong’s—a clear sign that he was his son. But as the man looked at Shi Bai, a trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes.

“This is my son, Ye Xingzu,” Ye Rulong introduced. “Should you ever need anything, young sir, you may instruct him as well.”

Ye Xingzu quickly shook Shi Bai’s hand. “My father has spoken of you often, young sir. Meeting you in person far exceeds your reputation!”

Shi Bai smiled lightly, having already discerned the man’s thoughts but unwilling to bother with him.

Ye Rulong promptly invited Shi Bai inside, clapping his hands. “Tea!”

Immediately, a servant brought out a set of fine imperial kiln teacups. Ye Rulong personally poured tea for Shi Bai. “This is Da Hong Pao from Wuyi Mountain. It took considerable effort to obtain it; I hope you won’t find it wanting.”

Shi Bai knew nothing about tea. He only noticed its bright orange-yellow color, which looked lovely. He took a sip. “It’s not bad.”

Ye Ying’er, standing nearby, snorted. “Not bad? Do you even know what Da Hong Pao is?”

A beautiful, middle-aged woman next to her rolled her eyes but said nothing.

“Ying’er!” Ye Rulong suddenly slapped the table. “Is that any way to speak to our guest? Apologize at once!”

Ye Xingzu and the middle-aged woman’s expressions shifted—they were clearly shocked by Ye Rulong’s sternness. Ye Ying’er pouted, aggrieved. “Sorry!” With that, she stormed upstairs.

The middle-aged woman hurried after her.

“Please don't take offense,” Ye Rulong said with an apologetic smile. “My granddaughter is the apple of our eye—spoiled from a young age. She tends to speak out of turn.”

Shi Bai smiled faintly. “It’s nothing.”

Upstairs, Ye Ying’er lay on her bed, furiously clutching a teddy bear. “Why does Grandpa always side with that country bumpkin? He’s even trying to match me with him! As if I’d ever be interested in someone like him!”

The elegant woman patted her back, full of concern. “I don’t understand your grandfather’s thinking either. Even if he cured your grandfather, it all seems too mysterious. The boy is clearly from humble origins.”

She paused, then whispered, “Do you think your grandfather’s lost his mind?”

“Mom!” Ye Ying’er was almost in tears. “Who wouldn’t think so?”

“Don’t cry,” her mother soothed. “Your father isn’t fond of him either. As long as we’re here, we’ll never agree to the match.”

Ye Ying’er immediately threw herself into her mother’s arms. “Thank you, Mom! I knew you were the best!”

Downstairs, the conversation turned to more serious matters as Ye Rulong spoke of his martial arts.

“My skills are a family inheritance, practiced since childhood. They’ve given me an iron body and earned me a reputation in the martial world. But…”

Shi Bai was taken aback. “The martial world? Does such a thing still exist?”

Ye Rulong and Ye Xingzu exchanged glances. Ye Xingzu eyed him suspiciously. “You mean you don’t know?”

Shi Bai was utterly confused. How could he know? In both his lives, he’d only seen ‘the martial world’ on TV or in books. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard of it.”

Ye Xingzu’s disappointment deepened; he crossed his legs impatiently.

Ye Rulong’s face also showed regret as he stroked his chin. “Where there are people, there is a ‘martial world.’ Even in this age of tanks and cannons, the martial world has never disappeared. During World War II, Eastern martial artists even participated in the national salvation movement.”

Shi Bai was even more astonished. “World War II? Could martial arts really stand up to guns and artillery?”

Ye Rulong replied, “Of course, the human body alone can’t withstand such weapons. But think about it—can’t martial artists also use guns? Who do you suppose is more formidable: a martial artist with a gun, or an ordinary man with a gun?”

Shi Bai suddenly understood. “So, martial arts have merged with modern technology.”

Ye Rulong nodded. “Exactly.”

Shi Bai couldn’t help but sigh again. Who would have thought this world hid so many secrets? How ignorant he must have been in his past life.

“That’s why, behind many famous figures and powerful families today, there’s the support of martial artists. For example, Ma Xiaoyun, the titan of the business world—he’s actually a supreme martial master.”

“What?!” Shi Bai was even more stunned. “He’s a martial arts master, too?”

Ye Xingzu chimed in, “Hmph, and Li Baidu, Ma Tengfei—they’re all top-class masters of our era.”

Shi Bai was astounded. Everything he was hearing overturned everything he thought he knew about the world. He muttered, “Is this really the world I thought I knew?”

Seeing his wide-eyed naivety, Ye Xingzu became even more disappointed. “So he’s just an ignorant brat. Father, you’ve made a mistake.”

Ye Rulong quickly tried to smooth things over. “Ah, although the young sir is not of the martial world, he is gifted with other abilities. I’m sure his future will be bright.”

Ye Xingzu snorted, “But if he’s not of the martial world, how can he make his mark in this dangerous world?”

Ye Rulong quickly added, “He may not know martial arts, but his medical skills are exceptional. In time, he’ll be renowned throughout the land.”

At this, Ye Xingzu became interested. “I heard it was the young sir who cured my father’s injury. Even the Saint of Medicine, Qi Ming, couldn’t do that. Who is your master, and what method did you use, if you don’t mind sharing?”

Shi Bai waved his hand dismissively. “I just happened to throw a punch and he was cured. As for my school, I’ve said before—I have no teacher, no sect. I am a cultivator.”

Ye Xingzu was baffled—his answer was as good as saying nothing. So he asked, “Then, young sir, where is your family from, and what do your parents do?”

Shi Bai saw through his intentions and didn’t care in the slightest. He answered directly, “We live in Xiao Village. My parents both work in fruit retail.”

Ye Xingzu’s disappointment reached its peak. Fruit retail in Xiao Village—wasn’t that just running a fruit stall? Still, he pressed on politely, “A young man of such bearing must surely excel in his studies as well?”

Shi Bai nodded, “I do all right—about a thousandth place or so.”

“Pfft!” One of the Ye family’s servants couldn’t help but burst out laughing and hurriedly excused herself.