319 Late Night Invitation, Getting There First

Ye Jin tensed up when she saw Ye Shixiao’s vicious expression. She kept her footsteps quiet and walked to the door. She reached out and gently placed her hand on the door latch. Then, she turned around and gave her father an inquiring look.

Ye Shixiao tightened his grip on the hammer in his hand and nodded imperceptibly.

Ye Jin, who had received the signal, immediately lifted the latch and opened the door. Almost at the same time, Ye Shixiao strode forward and swung the hammer in his hand at the figure outside the door!

Clang—

With the crisp sound of metal colliding, sparks flew in all directions. The hammer in Ye Shixiao’s hand was also sent flying by a huge force. He took three steps back and only stopped when his back hit the forging table heavily.

On the other hand, the young man outside the door only swayed slightly before regaining his foothold. He held a saber as long as his forearm with one hand.

“Killing without saying a word. Is this how the Ye family treats their guests?”

The young man slowly put down the saber and asked coldly. His cold gaze swept across Ye Jin and his daughter, making the two of them shudder.

Ye Shixiao immediately stepped forward to protect Ye Jin. He frowned and glared at the other party. “It’s curfew time in the city now, and you came to my house with a saber. What are your intentions?!”

Faced with Ye Shixiao’s question, the young man did not panic at all. He put the saber back into its sheath and took out a jade token from his waist. “I’m Chen Tianqi, a centurion in the army. I’ve been entrusted by Lin Ran to invite Ye Shixiao and Ye Jin to the government office for a chat.”

“Chen Tianqi?”

Ye Shixiao frowned slightly when he heard this name. He vaguely remembered that there was once a person called Chen Tianqi in the city, and he was a good friend of his disciple, Sun Ge. Then, he narrowed his eyes and sized up the young man carefully. Only then did he realize that the young man’s appearance was indeed familiar.

Then, Ye Shixiao sized up the jade token again. After confirming that it was the military token, his originally vigilant expression relaxed.

“I remember you used to be from Iron City, didn’t you?”

Ye Shixiao sized up the other party and probed, “I remember that you’re Sun Ge’s best friend. You came to visit my house many years ago… Why don’t you know where I live?”

“I’ve been away for many years and don’t remember the city very well.”

Chen Tianqi replied flawlessly. As he spoke, he hung the jade pendant back at his waist and turned around to make an inviting gesture. “Since Elder Ye still remembers me, let’s set off quickly so that Lin Ran won’t have to wait.”

Ye Shixiao nodded but did not move. Since the other party knew Lin Ran, there should be no problem.

However, for some reason, Ye Shixiao felt that something was amiss.

After hesitating for a moment, Ye Shixiao turned to look at Ye Jin behind him. “Jin, it’s getting late. Go upstairs and rest first. I’ll follow him to the government office to take a look.”

When she heard that her father was going to attend the appointment alone, Ye Jin looked worried and was about to speak when Chen Tianqi, who was outside the door, beat her to it and said, “Elder Ye, I’ve already made it very clear just now that I’m inviting you and your daughter.”

Ye Shixiao’s eyes narrowed when he heard that, but he returned to normal in an instant. “It’s cold at night. My daughter is weak, so it’s not convenient for her to go out. Moreover, my daughter stays at home all day and doesn’t know much. What’s the big deal if she doesn’t go?”

“Sorry, I’m just following orders.”

Chen Tianqi replied expressionlessly in a deep voice. His tone sounded neither servile nor overbearing, but his hand was already on the hilt of the saber at his waist.

Seeing Chen Tianqi’s action, the ominous feeling in Ye Shixiao’s heart intensified. However, the difference in strength between the two of them was obvious. Even if he wanted to resist, it would probably be in vain in the end.

After a long period of silence, Ye Shixiao lowered his shoulders as if he was dejected. He said in an almost imperceptible voice, “I’m going to put on some clothes. Wait a moment.”

Chen Tianqi had no intention of rejecting.

Ye Shixiao pulled Ye Jin upstairs. Not long after, they came down neatly dressed and walked slowly in the direction of the government office with Chen Tianqi.

15 minutes later.

Huo Qiyun slowly walked over from the other end of the street. As he walked, he looked around at the houses on the street and cursed Lin Ran for being unreliable.

Lin Ran asked him to come to the north of the city to find a family with the surname Ye, but there were dozens of families in the north of the city. There was not even a ghost on the streets at night. How was he supposed to find that Ye family?

Just as Huo Qiyun was cursing, a dim light suddenly caught his attention.

He followed the light and found that it was coming from the door of a house. There were charcoal fires burning in the furnaces, but there didn’t seem to be anyone in the house.

“Is anyone home?”

Huo Qiyun shouted from outside the door, but the room was still silent. After trying a few more times to no avail, although he was extremely puzzled, he could only leave silently.

“How unlucky. It wasn’t easy to find a house that was open, but no one was there. Could it be that I can only disturb those who are already sleeping?”

Huo Qiyun muttered as he quietly sneaked around. His eyes swept across the metal houses by the street, trying to find another family that was still awake. No matter how thick-skinned he was, he couldn’t bring himself to disturb people’s sleep in the middle of the night.

…

In the dungeon of the Iron City.

Lin Ran and Xuan Wushang stood opposite each other. The blade of the Yin Yang Sword trembled slightly, causing a clanging sound. A faint murderous aura spread out. Their gazes met in the air, emitting invisible sparks.

“Why aren’t you attacking yet?”

Xuan Wushang asked softly with a faint smile, his indifferent tone faintly revealing a bit of disdain, “Could it be that you’re afraid of attacking?”

“What a joke! Why would I be afraid of you?”

Lin Ran sneered and glanced at Xuan Wushang’s empty hands, but the vigilance in his eyes did not decrease at all. “I’m just wondering why you’re not afraid.”

Xuan Wushang smiled when he heard that. “Everyone dies eventually. Why should I be afraid?”

Lin Ran looked at Xuan Wushang speechlessly. Although Xuan Wushang was right, in this current situation, Lin Ran felt like he was being made fun of.

A trace of anger ignited in his heart, but Lin Ran still did not attack rashly.

Through the confrontation just now, Lin Ran had basically figured out Xuan Wushang’s strength. If they really fought, Lin Ran was confident that he could kill the other party in a second, and Xuan Wushang must have realized this.

In this way, Xuan Wushang’s frankness seemed to be especially suspicious. Could it be that he really didn’t have anything in this world to live for so that death didn’t matter to him?