C4 Yun Family of City Lord's Mansion

A gentle knock at the door snapped Ye Bufan back to the present, prompting him to quickly straighten his attire. Unsure if the patterns on his clothes were recognized in this world, he was not keen on exposing his secret.

Upon opening the door, he found Ye Jian standing there. "Are you ready? The Great Elder is waiting," Ye Jian said, then discreetly passed a jade bottle to Ye Bufan, whispering, "Inside is a Wood Spirit Pill with healing properties. If trouble arises, do what you can to delay and preserve your life. Leave the rest to me."

Grasping the jade bottle and tucking it away, Ye Bufan felt a surge of warmth reminiscent of his master's meticulous care. Was this the essence of fatherly love?

Ye Jian's gaze lingered on the world-weariness in Ye Bufan's eyes, hesitating to voice his concerns, but ultimately remained silent. He then turned and escorted Ye Bufan out the door.

The Great Elder was already seated in the carriage, awaiting them. Ye Bufan leaped aboard and set off with the elder towards the City Lord's Mansion.

With the Great Elder's eyes firmly closed, not even fluttering as Ye Bufan climbed in, the confined space of the carriage seemed to amplify an intangible pressure. Was this the weight of the world's authority?

As the carriage sped along, the Great Elder remained silent, and Ye Bufan felt it unwise to speak. He yearned to inspect the pill his father had given him, but with the elder's presence, it seemed inappropriate. Considering his father's cautious demeanor, the pill's worth must be considerable, and likely unknown to the rest of the Ye family.

Suddenly, the Great Elder's eyes snapped open. "Your father clearly holds you in high regard, having deployed at least half of the Ye family's power for this journey."

"That's because my father is concerned for the Great Elder's safety. You are the pillar of the Ye family!" Ye Bufan replied, seizing the opportunity to offer a well-placed compliment.

"There's no need for flattery," the Great Elder retorted. "Since I've agreed to escort you to the Yun family, rest assured, I'll see you there safely." With that, he closed his eyes once more to rest.

Despite Ye Bufan's lingering concerns for Yun Tianao's condition in the cave, he had no choice but to surrender to fate. Emulating the Great Elder, he closed his eyes to meditate, his mind teeming with issues to ponder in this unfamiliar world.

Ye Bufan delved into the recesses of his memory, piecing together the distinct differences in cultivation between this world and Earth. Here, the air lacked the natural Yuan energy, leading humans to eventually devise a cultivation method tailored for them.

Cultivation in this world begins with the body, known as the Power Stage, segmented into nine levels. The first three levels constitute the primary stage, the fourth through sixth are intermediate, and the final three are advanced.

At the sixth level of the Power Stage, Ye Bufan's prowess placed him among the elite of Cloud Peak City's youth, including the commoners. However, within the ranks of the Ye, Yun, and Lin family disciples, his standing was merely average.

Reaching the pinnacle of the Power Stage fortifies the body to such a degree that one naturally develops an inner strength, ushering in the next realm: the Qi Stage.

The Qi Stage, too, is categorized into nine levels, with the first three as the early stage, the next three as the middle stage, and the last three as the high stage. Ye Jian was at the fourth level, the intermediate Qi Stage. Progressing below the sixth level is attainable through diligent training over time, but advancing beyond the seventh level in the Qi Stage requires more than just hard work—it demands innate talent and serendipity. The Great Elder, a Ninth Rank of Qi Stage practitioner, stands as the Ye family's sole member to have reached this zenith, with the Second and Third Elders at the Eighth Rank of Qi Stage.

With the backing of the three Great Elders, the Ye family had earned its place as one of the top three powerhouses in Cloud Peak City.

Without such a formidable bodyguard accompanying him, he would never have willingly set foot in the City Lord's Mansion. He figured that, worst case scenario, he could always make a run for it.

Yun Tianao was already at the doorstep waiting when they approached the City Lord's Mansion. Since his return, Yun Tianao had kept a close watch on the Ye family's activities. Given the Great Elder's esteemed status, even as the city's lord, Yun Tianao was compelled to greet him at the entrance. Despite the current tension between their families, Yun Tianao was obliged to show the proper respect due to the Great Elder until any overt conflict arose.

"Greetings, City Lord!" The Great Elder greeted with a simple hand gesture. Yun Tianao, after all, held the title of City Lord of Cloud Peak City, an official role bestowed by the nation, separate from his personal power.

Yun Tianao, careful not to overstep, promptly reciprocated the greeting. "Elder Ye, you flatter me! Right this way, please!"

The purpose of the Great Elder's visit was an open secret; no one needed to voice it. Yun Tianao led the way, and with a slight furrow of his brow, the Great Elder followed.

The City Lord's Mansion was split into an inner and outer court. The inner court was the Yun family's residence, while the outer court was where Yun Tianao managed the city's affairs. By guiding them to the outer court, it was clear that Yun Tianao intended to handle the matter formally and impartially.

While the Great Elder appeared concerned, Ye Bufan seemed noticeably more at ease. It appeared that Yun Tianao was still rational, and as long as he remained so, Ye Bufan's life was not in immediate danger.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion, in the Main Hall, Ye Bufan realized why Yun Tianao had ushered him and the Great Elder into the outer court. Two other figures were present: Lin Shanfeng, the head of the Lin family, and Lin Feiyang, who were seated on the left side of the hall. Upon noticing the Great Elder, they were momentarily taken aback but quickly rose to pay their respects. It was evident that the Ye family greatly valued their wayward son, going so far as to have the Great Elder personally ensure his protection.

Lin Feiyang's complexion was ashen, suggesting he had sustained a grievous injury. His gaze bore into Ye Bufan, filled with immense fury.

Unperturbed by the unexpected animosity from Lin Feiyang, Ye Bufan, alongside the Great Elder, made his way to the left side of the hall and took a seat after Yun Tianao had settled himself.

As everyone found their places, a throng of commoners burst through the hall's entrance. They lingered just outside, neither daring to enter nor willing to leave, seemingly drawn by the prospect of excitement. Among them, many gestured and whispered about Ye Bufan.

"Have you heard? Ye Bufan supposedly wronged Miss Yun..."

"Unbelievable! How could he dare offend someone as angelic as Miss Yun? Duke Yun will surely hold him accountable..."

The murmurs of the commoners were hushed, yet the hall was filled with no ordinary individuals. Apart from Ye Bufan and Lin Feiyang, each person present was an expert at the Qi Stage, and such whispers did not escape their notice.

Lin Shanfeng's attention seemed fixed on his teacup, oblivious to the chatter outside. The Great Elder's eyes were shut tight, the very image of a meditating monk. Yun Tianao's brow furrowed, his gaze sweeping across the crowd with such severity that the whispers ceased instantly. His eyes lingered on Lin Shanfeng momentarily before moving on without comment.

An eerie silence descended upon the City Lord's Mansion's main hall.

"Cough..." After a brief interlude, Yun Tianao, as the host, cleared his throat, piercing the quiet. "Elder Ye, Lin family's master was in the midst of discussing a matter with me before your arrival, and you walked in just as we were getting to the heart of it. Oh, Master Lin, could you remind me what you were saying?"

"Crafty old fox," Lin Shanfeng silently chided. "Halfway through? The conversation was clearly over." But Yun Tianao's stance was unmistakable—it was Lin Shanfeng's turn to speak.

Setting his teacup aside, Lin Shanfeng began, "Last night, my son encountered the guards from the City Lord's Mansion searching for Miss Yun Ruoshuang. The Lin, Ye, and Yun families are branches of the same tree, so naturally, my son joined the search. Eventually, they found Miss Yun in a cave on the mountain behind us, well after midnight. And Young Master Ye, you were present at the scene, weren't you?"

Ye Bufan simply nodded, remaining silent.

Lin Shanfeng went on, "At the time, I noticed Young Master Ye and Miss Yun were in tattered clothes, as if they'd encountered thieves. I had the guards escort Miss Yun back to the city first, then my son accompanied Young Master Ye on his return."

He paused briefly before adding, "Little did we know, my son was struck from behind and suddenly fainted after just a few steps. Upon awakening at dawn, he dragged his severely injured body back, only to discover the guards who had escorted Miss Yun dead in the forest. Concerned for Miss Yun and Young Master Ye's safety, my son informed me of the incident, and I immediately brought him to the City Lord's Mansion to report it to the city lord..."

"Crafty old fox!" Ye Bufan inwardly cursed as he observed Lin Shanfeng's theatrics. The man had conveniently omitted any mention of him and Yun Ruoshuang, clearly leaving it to Yun Tianao to lift the veil of secrecy. His account, while not explicit, subtly directed suspicion towards Ye Bufan. Both he and Lin Feiyang had traveled the same route; Lin Feiyang was gravely injured, yet Ye Bufan was unscathed, and all the Lin family guards were dead. It was all highly incriminating for him.

"Young Master Lin is wounded? As it happens, I possess some knowledge of medicine. Allow me to examine you..." The Great Elder interjected suddenly.

Caught off guard by the Great Elder's offer to check his injuries, Lin Feiyang quickly demurred, "This junior's injuries are minor; I couldn't possibly impose on the Senior."

The Great Elder's eyes sparkled with intensity as he stared at Lin Feiyang and spoke sternly, "Does Young Master Lin doubt my medical expertise?"

Lin Feiyang repeatedly insisted he would never dare, yet he made no move to approach. Lin Shanfeng chided, "Having Elder Ye treat you is a blessing. Don't just stand there, go!"

Finally, Lin Feiyang nodded and approached the Great Elder, unable to hide the fear on his face.

With his eyes closed, the Great Elder swiftly grasped Lin Feiyang's wrist in one hand. His quickness was such that even Lin Shanfeng, seated right beside him, couldn't catch the movement. All he saw was a blur before Lin Feiyang's wrist was in the Great Elder's grasp.

The Great Elder nodded, affirming, "The blow to his back was likely a full-powered strike from someone at the sixth level of the Power Stage, causing internal injuries..." As he finished speaking, Lin Feiyang felt a soothing energy flow into him, significantly easing the pain in his organs. Once the Great Elder withdrew his hand, Lin Feiyang bowed respectfully and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for your aid, Elder!"

Silence once again enveloped the hall. No one raised any doubts about Lin Feiyang's grave injuries, while Ye Bufan sat there unscathed, posing questions as if nothing had happened.