Gao Wu: I became the minor villain that the protagonist was about to destroy.

Afterwards, Ye Ming and Chu Yuntian's group left the Luo family.

When they arrived, the place was packed with guests; when they left, it was deserted and desolate. The lanterns in the courtyard cast long shadows of the group, but Ye Ming and Chu Yuntian's expressions remained unchanged, as if the matter were insignificant.

However, Chu Yu puffed out her cheeks and stomped her feet with unusual force, as if she wanted to crush the stone slabs under the threshold of the Luo family's house. "What the hell! Those people from the Luo family are simply, simply too much!"

At this moment, she finally couldn't hold back anymore, her voice filled with grievance and indignation, "You clearly came to celebrate Old Master Luo's birthday, and they were the ones who gave you the invitation, but what happened? You even questioned it! And in the end... you almost got into a fight! Is this how they treat their guests?!"

She grew angrier as she spoke, her face turning bright red. Turning to look at the two calm elders beside her, her anger flared up even more.

"Uncle Ye! Aren't you angry?"

She tugged at Ye Ming's sleeve, then looked at her father: "And Dad too! How come you're all...acting like nothing's wrong?! You can't just tolerate this because the Luo family is powerful!"

Ye Ming tilted his head slightly, the dim light outlining his handsome face today. His tone was somewhat nonchalant: "Angry? Of course I'm angry."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully: "Can't you tell? I'm furious! How dare the little Luo family bully me? I'll wipe them out tomorrow!"

"Uh..." Chu Yu was taken aback and looked Ye Ming up and down. The other party was tall and straight, walked with ease, and his breathing was not disordered at all. How could he look "furious" in the slightest? Let alone want to destroy the Luo family.

"Really...really? But you're not angry like that, are you?"

Ye Ming pretended to be profound: "This is the difference between adults and children. Being angry without showing it is the difference between you and me. You'll understand when you reach my age."

Chu Yu gave me a look that said, "Do you think I'm an idiot?" and retorted, "Aren't you the same age as me?"

At this moment, Chu Yuntian stretched out his broad palm and gently rubbed his daughter's head, interrupting her words. His voice was gentle: "Xiaoyu, you are still young. The interpersonal relationships and conflicts of interest involved here are far more complicated than they appear on the surface. You don't need to understand them now."

Chu Yu shook her head in annoyance, trying to shake off her father's hand: "Here we go again! You always treat me like a child! Is there some other trick to this?"

"Lin Yue!"

She suddenly turned around and said, "Tell me! Do you know something?"

Lin Yue seemed to be lost in thought. When he heard this, he looked up and his gaze was clear but slightly profound.

He hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Miss, I... I don't quite understand the specifics either. It just felt like... what just happened was like a pre-arranged play, where everyone was playing their role, and we were both the audience and the characters in the play."

"Drama?" Chu Yu blinked her clear yet foolish eyes, even more confused.

When Ye Ming and Chu Yuntian heard Lin Yue's words, the corners of their mouths almost simultaneously curved upwards in a tiny, almost imperceptible arc.

They knew that Lin Yue had some idea of ​​what was going on. Although Old Master Luo seemed indifferent to Luo Junheng on the surface, it was actually a form of protection for him. However, this family dispute had dragged both the Chu and Ye families into it.

"Alright, Xiaoyu, don't overthink it."

Chu Yuntian withdrew his hand, his expression turning serious: "The next few days won't be peaceful in Luoxia City. You must stay home obediently. Do not go out without my permission, understand?"

He then looked at Lin Yue, his eyes filled with trust and entrustment: "Lin Yue, I entrust Xiao Yu's safety entirely to you. In these extraordinary times, please be vigilant."

Lin Yue immediately straightened his back, his eyes sharpening like unsheathed blades, and solemnly replied, "Yes, Uncle Chu! Please rest assured, as long as I'm here, I will never allow anyone to harm Miss!"

Chu Yu pouted, unconvinced, and said, "I don't need his personal protection! I'm very powerful now! I can break through to the Village Qian Realm tonight! Once I break through..."

The girl's voice was clear and bright, filled with anticipation for the future, but before she could finish speaking, Ye Ming interrupted, "Once you break through, you'll find that there's no one around you you can beat, hahaha!"

"Nightfall!!"

"Would you die if you didn't criticize me?!"

The somewhat somber atmosphere was relieved at this moment, and the group left the Luo family compound amidst playful banter.

The hustle and bustle of the Luo family's birthday banquet came to an abrupt halt due to this sudden conflict. The guests quickly dispersed with varying expressions, and the large banquet hall soon returned to a superficial tranquility. However, beneath that tranquility, an undercurrent surged even more turbulent than before.

The study was dark. Luo Huaiyuan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the huge French windows. His cloudy but still sharp eyes watched Ye Ming and the others leave.

"Bang, bang, bang."

The silence of the study was broken by a regular knocking sound.

"Master." A respectful voice came from outside the door from the butler, Wang Lin.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open silently, and Wang Lin quietly stepped in, then gently closed the door behind him. He stood three steps behind Luo Huaiyuan, bowed slightly, and awaited instructions.

After a long silence, Luo Huaiyuan finally spoke, his voice low and resonant in the empty study: "That young man... you had close contact with him. What's your opinion?"

Wang Lin did not answer immediately. He pondered for a moment, as if carefully recalling every detail of his brief encounter with Ye Ming.

"Reporting to Your Excellency,"

Wang Lin carefully chose his words: "This Mr. Ye... his willpower and ambition are truly unparalleled in my life. He may seem unruly and flamboyant, but he is by no means a reckless person."

"He has also gathered several talented and capable subordinates around him. According to my recent investigation, the core members of the Black Dragon Society are all exceptionally talented and powerful, yet they are absolutely loyal to him. Such ability to manage people is extraordinary. As for him himself..."

Wang Lin paused for a moment, his tone carrying an undisguised astonishment: "To have the strength of the third level of the City Realm at such a young age, one's talent is clearly extraordinary."

"What surprised me most was that he could withstand a palm strike from you, Master, and only retreat without being injured. His foundation is so solid that the word 'genius' cannot describe it. Given time, he will definitely become a major enemy of our Luo family."

Luo Huaiyuan listened silently, his aged yet dignified face reflected in the windowpane. He gave a soft "hmm": "You see things clearly. It's just that Junheng is still trying to win this person over."