Chapter 19: Young Master Huang

The surrounding crowd was shocked, each of them wondering where this reckless young man named Ning Ye had sprung from. Despite the clear warnings, how could he dare to act so brazenly? Everyone was convinced that Ning Ye was a dead man walking; to do such a thing was akin to kicking an iron plate, a literal invitation to his own demise.

"Kid, I’ll give you one chance. Kneel down and beg for my forgiveness right now, and I might let you leave. Otherwise, things won't be so simple today."

Ning Ye crossed his arms and replied, "I was born with a backbone a bit sturdier than most, and I have never knelt for anyone. Besides, I am quite curious to see how you plan to stop me from leaving."

Huang Shan’s limited patience had completely evaporated. He had already mentally cataloged the influential figures of Qingyuan County and its surrounding areas, and Ning Ye was certainly not among them. This meant that Ning Ye posed no threat to him, and therefore, there was nothing more to discuss.

"Come, loosen his joints for him. Let him know that there are some people and some matters he has no business meddling in, and even speaking up is a crime."

The two burly henchmen cracked their knuckles and closed in on Ning Ye. A single glance was enough to tell they were no strangers to doing evil on behalf of their master. Their first move was a vicious strike aimed at his lower body—a move as treacherous as it was cowardly. Usually, such tactics might work against an ordinary person, but today, they had slammed straight into a stone wall.

Before the onlookers could even blink, Ning Ye’s hands had already clamped onto the thugs' throats. His slender frame erupted with terrifying force. In a single exchange, the two henchmen were sent sprawling, their limbs tangled in disarray, while the arrogant smirk on young master Huang Shan’s face hadn't even had time to fade.

Ning Ye stretched his body and said, "Young Master Huang, are you prepared to continue this dispute with me? Or shall we end today's business here and settle the score properly another time?"

Huang Shan swallowed hard, his instinct taking over. "So what if you’re good at fighting? You can take on two, but can you take on twenty?"

"Young Master Huang, you only brought two people today. If you insist on settling this right now, I don't mind obliging you."

Fortunately, Huang Shan was not so foolish as to pursue a losing battle; a wise man does not fight when the odds are against him. As Huang Shan retreated, Ning Ye glanced at the onlookers. "If any of you feel you haven't seen enough, feel free to wait here. Perhaps Young Master Huang will return with more men shortly, and then you might all be included in the festivities one by one."

Hearing this, the crowd, still reeling from the shock, scattered instantly. If they were to be implicated, there would be nowhere to hide their tears.

Zhang Zihe stepped forward and said, "Young master, you should leave quickly. That man, Huang Shan, is vindictive and will certainly not let you go. I will stay here to stall him for you; please, run for your life."

Ning Ye raised an eyebrow. "If I flee and leave you behind, his fury will be vented entirely on you. By your own account, you might very well end up dead."

Zhang Zihe looked at him with a calm expression. "You stood up for me just now, and being able to do something for you in return is enough for me. Please, I beg you, go!"

"Well, with those words, I consider my money well spent. Enough. A minor character like Huang Shan is not worth my concern. Pack your things and come with me. You cannot go back on your word now; from here on out, you work for me."

Ning Ye’s words were undeniably arrogant, but it did not matter. If he were to fear a mere pampered rich kid, he would have no future to speak of. Before Zhang Zihe could process the situation, Ning Ye had already pulled him along. "This is no place for conversation. Go fetch your father and bring him along."

Their departure went largely unnoticed, as the crowd had already been frightened away by the earlier display. Those who did see them leave paid little mind, likely to forget the incident entirely before long.

On the way back, Ning Ye carefully inquired about Zhang Zihe’s background. It turned out that Zhang Zihe was not originally from Qingyuan County; he had moved there specifically because he heard it was easier to pass the imperial examinations in such a remote area. However, within a few years, his beautiful younger sister caught the eye of Huang Shan, leading to the destruction of his family. Even so, Huang Shan had not intended to let them go, which led to today’s confrontation.

Had Ning Ye not intervened, today would likely have been the day Zhang Zihe and Huang Shan fought to the bitter end, as their hatred had long since passed the point of reconciliation. As for his scholarship, Zhang Zihe was highly confident, having mastered the Four Books and Five Classics. He was also adept at arithmetic and other practical skills. For someone like Ning Ye, even if Zhang Zihe possessed no other talents, his ability to read and write was invaluable, as he needed to teach his own men.

Possessing physical strength alone was not enough. A true elite force had to be cultivated in all aspects, and since his men were all in their early twenties, there was still plenty of time for development.

When Ning Ye returned to the pharmacy, his men had finished bandaging their wounds, and the necessary supplies were ready. To avoid immediate further conflict with Huang Shan, Ning Ye led his group to move their spoils to the abandoned mansion in the east of the city. Wang Mingyuan’s generosity was truly impressive; although the mansion was located outside the city, it was massive, resembling a private estate.

It was evident how wealthy the previous occupants had been. As they moved their belongings into the estate, though it had been neglected for some time, it had not yet become overgrown. Only the dark, dried bloodstains remained as silent witnesses to the events that had transpired there. To make the place habitable, Ning Ye prioritized clearing out a few large rooms, ordering Wang Wu and the others to gradually restore the rest of the grand estate.