Chapter 532: Bowing His Head

Having said this, Xu Zihui secretly glanced at Ye Yuan.

Seeing no displeasure on his face, he plucked up the courage to continue: "After all, you are bound by blood. The city lord may have a thousand faults, but he is your maternal grandfather—that cannot be changed. Since you are family, why must it come to this? Whatever he did, his original intention was for the Ren family, wasn't it?"

Ren Xingchun was angered upon hearing this: "Xu Zihui, who asked you to meddle? My merits and faults as city lord—how dare you judge them!"

Ren Xingchun had always thought highly of Xu Zihui; otherwise, Xu Zihui would have been dead from that earlier blow.

But no matter how highly he regarded him, Xu Zihui was still just a subordinate.

A subordinate saying his master had "a thousand faults" to his face—with Ren Xingchun's temper, how could he save face?

Ye Yuan smiled at Xu Zihui and said, "See? He doesn't appreciate your kindness."

Xu Zihui showed no embarrassment, shaking his head: "I know the city lord's temper. He gave me my life. Whether he appreciates it is his business, but whether I act is mine! Since you, Ye Yuan, think well of me and call me Brother Zihui, even if it means death, I don't want to see you two, grandfather and grandson, become enemies."

Ye Yuan looked at Xu Zihui, shook his head, and sighed: "Brother Zihui is righteous. To make your acquaintance is truly my fortune!"

Ye Yuan's words were not said lightly. If not for Xu Zihui, Ye Hang would likely be dead by now. And the current situation would certainly not be what it was.

If Ye Hang had truly died, Ye Yuan would have gone berserk. Even if Ren Xingchun was his maternal grandfather, he would have killed him with his own hands.

Ye Yuan acknowledged Ye Hang as his father, but that did not mean he recognized Ren Xingchun as his "grandfather"!

If he actually killed Ren Xingchun, Ye Yuan would have no psychological burden at all.

If not for Xu Zihui's benevolence, even knowing the relationship between Ye Yuan and Ye Hang, he might not have withstood Ren Xingchun's pressure and made the move to release him.

Ren Xingchun's accumulated authority in Wufang City was still extremely formidable.

In the current situation, though Ye Yuan was extremely displeased, it had not yet reached the point of a complete fallout, especially since he held the upper hand.

Ye Yuan leisurely walked up to Ren Xingchun, extended his hand, and said, "Hand it over!"

Ren Xingchun was taken aback: "Hand what over?"

"Healing pills!" Ye Yuan said flatly.

Ren Xingchun looked at Ye Yuan, then at Xu Zihui, his face shifting between emotions.

He knew this was Ye Yuan's final chance for him. If he refused to hand over the pills, the relationship between him and Ye Yuan would likely never be reconciled.

Ren Xingchun could sense that Ye Yuan's stubbornness was in no way inferior to his own.

But handing over the pills would mean bowing his head to Ye Yuan.

Injuring his own subordinate and then using his own pills to heal him—that itself was a concession. Yet Ren Xingchun was an extremely domineering man; he was used to others bowing to him, not the other way around.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Ren Xingchun's decision.

If he turned hostile, Ye Yuan and the Ren family would probably never come together.

Xu Zihui said nothing on the sidelines. He had dealt with Ye Yuan for some time and had some understanding of his character.

Ye Yuan had been extremely tough even against a behemoth like the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, directly detaining Qin Hongtao's grandson.

Now, facing Ren Xingchun, Ye Yuan's willingness to go this far was already a great show of respect.

As for the decision, it was up to Ren Xingchun himself.

Ren Xingchun felt his heart pounding fiercely, frozen in place, making no move.

He had never imagined being cornered by his own grandson.

Facing Ye Yuan's assertiveness, Ren Xingchun actually felt a sense of fear!

Ren Xingchun was very clear about Ye Yuan's capabilities. Having Ye Yuan join the Ren family meant far more than just gaining a highly promising younger generation member.

Ye Yuan's own strength was enough to intimidate everyone!

The Cao family's fear of Ye Yuan was beyond words.

Originally, Ren Xingchun was also extremely wary of Ye Yuan, but if Ye Yuan joined the Ren family, the Cao family would be nothing to fear!

With Ye Yuan, the Ren family would have a living Thousand Questions Wall!

"Hurry up. My patience is limited!" Ye Yuan frowned.

Ren Xingchun took a deep breath, took out a fourth-grade healing pill from his storage ring, and slammed it angrily into Ye Yuan's palm.

Seeing this, everyone let out a long sigh of relief.

Ye Yuan glanced indifferently at the pill in his palm and said disdainfully, "A peak Alchemy Emperor, and you only refine this kind of trash pill? Oh well, since I can't refine fourth-grade pills, Brother Zihui, just make do with it."

With that, Ye Yuan casually tossed the pill to Xu Zihui.

Ren Xingchun's face darkened, and he fumed, "Brat, this Green Flower Jade Dew Pill is the finest healing pill in Wufang City, and you call it trash?"

Ye Yuan retorted, "A peak Alchemy Emperor refining a fourth-grade pill that's only high-grade—and you dare to offer it!"

Ren Xingchun sneered, "Anyone can brag! If you're so capable, refine one yourself and let me see!"

Ye Yuan chuckled but said nothing, yet the disdain on his face deeply provoked Ren Xingchun.

Before he could erupt, Ren Dong interjected, "Grandfather, if Master breaks through to Alchemy King, refining a super-grade Green Flower Jade Dew Pill should be no problem!"

"You little brat, why are you always siding with outsiders? And he's your cousin—what's this about calling him master!"

Hearing Ren Dong's interruption, Ren Xingchun immediately exploded, shouting at him.

But Ren Dong grinned cheekily, "You said he's my cousin, so how is that siding with outsiders? Besides... we keep our relationships separate—it doesn't matter! Since I've acknowledged my cousin as my master, he'll be my master for life!"

Ren Xingchun's face darkened, and with a flicker of movement, he grabbed Ren Dong.

"Stubborn brat, just wait till I get you home and teach you a lesson! And you, Yujie, go reflect on your mistakes in seclusion!"

With that, Ren Xingchun vanished from the Wind Elegance Pavilion.

Watching Ren Xingchun's retreating figure, Xu Zihui said gratefully, "Young master spared the city lord's face. Zihui is deeply grateful!"

Xu Zihui realized that after getting the pill, Ye Yuan deliberately showed disdain and cracked jokes to ease the awkwardness.

Although Ye Yuan had forced Ren Xingchun to bow his head, Ren Xingchun was still one of the top alchemists in this small world.

He still needed to save face.

Ye Yuan's face darkened, and he said displeasedly, "What 'young master'? There you go again. Just call me Ye Yuan from now on! With me, you're not a subordinate—you're a friend!"