The black-haired girl was once again taken aback.
The master had almost never spoken to her in a gentle manner; this was the first time...
She felt an indescribable joy and pride in her heart as she bit her lip and said, "Qiongyu does not dare to decide, I will do as the master says..."
"So be it." Chen Ye’s gaze shifted.
Zhang Qiaoyue realized things were going bad and knelt down, kowtowing, "Sir! Peach Mountain District... forbids killing in the streets, it would sully your hands..."
She was quite sensible, choosing not to resist or threaten in vain.
But Chen Ye had no intention of letting her go, calmly saying, "You wish to take my people away in the streets, and still mention market regulations to me?"
Everyone had seen this, and even if he killed these three directly, no one could say a word!
Besides... regulations always bind only the lower-level cultivators.
As Chen Ye finished speaking, Flying Light flashed, and blood splattered.
He killed them instantly, which also spared Zhang Qiaoyue from further pain.
Even the two men who had fled into the crowd were fervently held down by enthusiastic cultivators, dying without Chen Ye needing to lift a hand.
Afterward, a late-period Qi Cultivation cultivator carried two heads, complimenting, "These petty scoundrels aren’t worth Chen Supervisor’s action!"
Chen Ye cupped his hands with a smile, "Thank you, everyone. Please inform the Wei family that I, Chen Ye... have returned!"
...
Inside the Herb Pavilion.
When Chen Ye stepped in, the cultivators who had been whispering about the outside events immediately fell silent, trembling like quails.
How could they not notice the commotion outside the pavilion?
But they had just wanted to throw Chen Ye’s maid out, how could they now dare to face Chen Ye?
What puzzled them further was the wind direction within the Lingyin Sect.
They knew Chen Ye went to save True Inheritor Bai in the Grotto Heaven... but now that Chen Ye returned safely, doesn’t this mean he brought True Inheritor Bai back?
This was a life-saving grace!
In the future, the Bai Family would surely be Chen Ye’s strongest support!
Compared to the Bai family, what were the Wei and Xu families?
Liu Quan hurried over upon hearing the news. Seeing Chen Ye, he gasped in shock.
"Supervisor Chen! Congratulations on successfully establishing the Foundation and returning safely, truly blessed by the heavens! Please, come inside!"
Steward Liu nodded and bowed, keeping his attitude very low.
"There’s no need."
Chen Ye raised his hand to stop, his gaze sweeping across the faces of several stewards who shrank their necks; those who had been loudly spitting words a moment ago immediately became silent as cicadas in winter, wishing they could find a hole to hide in.
"I am here to take Qiongyu back." Chen Ye’s tone was calm,
"Incidentally, Steward Liu, please convey that I, Chen Ye, have returned, and everything in Lisong Valley remains unchanged. As for the affairs within the valley... someone will come to discuss the subsequent Spirit Plant supply with the Herb Pavilion in a few days. Also, regarding the rumors about myself and Lisong Valley, I hope Steward Liu can help clarify them."
"Yes, yes, yes! Of course! The supervisor can rest assured! Whoever dares to slander Supervisor Chen and Lisong Valley again, our Herb Pavilion will be the first to disagree!"
Steward Liu patted his chest in assurance, then bowed to Lin Qiongyu apologetically.
"Miss Lin, earlier, some within the pavilion were blind and disrespectful. Please forgive us."
Lin Qiongyu seemed a bit at a loss, instinctively stepping closer to Chen Ye.
Chen Ye looked coldly at Steward Liu, "Liu Quan, you and I are old acquaintances. I do not wish to trouble you... but an apology, is it that easy?"
The black-haired girl quickly tugged at Chen Ye’s sleeve, whispered, "Master, Qiongyu is just a servant..."
She didn’t want Chen Ye to become upset with a colleague because of her.
Chen Ye sneered, "In the past, I had to endure somewhat, but now, why tolerate these petty scoundrels? Don’t tell me I’ve cultivated to become a turtle shell?"
Steward Liu laughed apologetically, "Of course not... of course not."
He truly valued Chen Ye, and it was he who protected Lin Qiongyu earlier; he just didn’t expect Chen Ye would be willing to offend many Lingyin Sect cultivators for a maid.
Liu Quan signaled to the others, these stewards or disciples, though unwilling in heart, did not dare to offend a Foundation Establishment cultivator possibly backed by the Bai family, so they stepped forward to apologize to a maid in the early stages of Qi Cultivation.
"Master..."
The black-haired girl saw all these sect cultivators, who she usually had to look up to, now humbly apologizing to her, she couldn’t help but feel as if she were dreaming.
Why did the master suddenly treat her so well?
At this time, Lin Qiongyu felt rather uncomfortable and began to miss Chen Ye’s disdain and indifference towards her...
She, a woman of little virtue, what right did she have to earn such gentleness from the master?
Only then did Chen Ye smile, "These are Lingyin Sect stewards, no need for courtesy... Steward Liu, may I know which elder guards the Herb Pavilion?"
Steward Liu’s heart tightened, silently pondering whether Chen Ye, after establishing the Foundation, intended to use the guardian to assert power?
He respectfully answered, "Supervisor Chen, the guardian is advanced in years; though he is the guardian of the Herb Pavilion, he has long rested in other residences, disengaging from worldly affairs."
"I see... It’s just as well that he’s not here. I have gained much in the Grotto Heaven, and I hope Steward Liu can help me manage a few things."
Chen Ye nodded, shifting the conversation.
He possessed a substantial amount of cultivation resources, which were difficult to sell as an individual.
As a steward of the Lingyin Sect, he naturally had to make good use of the Herb Pavilion, which had channels spread throughout the Yan Kingdom.
It was only then that Steward Liu understood. He realized Chen Ye’s previous question about the guardian might have stemmed from concern that the guardian was a cultivator from a rival family and might sabotage him when dealing with a large volume of resources.
With this thought, he transmitted his thoughts, "The supervisor can rest assured. The guardian has long ceased to concern himself with pavilion matters. Day-to-day, the pavilion is primarily led by Steward Ma and myself. Steward Ma recently returned to the sect..."
Chen Ye nodded.
Indeed, the resources he planned to sell were numerous, far too much for a short-term effort, leaving no room for unexpected events.