Although it was summer, by nine o'clock at night, it was already dark in Donghai. The sky was overcast with dark clouds, as if foretelling the arrival of a storm.
Shenxianju, Jian Gu.
Jiang Wuming lay on the grass, a blade of foxtail grass in his mouth, gazing blankly at the vast starry sky.
“Wuming, what are you thinking about?”
Xia Xueqin came to Jiang Wuming’s side and asked.
After returning home, she first helped Xia Dong with a medicinal bath.
Xia Dong was not only Xia Xueqin’s adopted daughter but also her successor.
Xia Xueqin was extremely strict with Xia Dong in her martial arts practice, supervising her daily training and medicinal baths.
Medicinal baths were a daily ritual for the inheritors of many martial arts lineages.
Through medicinal baths, martial artists could absorb medicinal properties and relieve the fatigue of daily training, accelerating their recovery.
“Daydreaming.”
Jiang Wuming smiled, got up, and asked, “Aunt Xia, has Xiao Dong slept yet?”
“Mm.”
Xia Xueqin nodded, then hesitated before asking, “Wuming, Ye Rui is your cousin after all. Will my disciplining him today affect your future relationship with the Ye family?”
“Aunt Xia, you worry too much.”
Jiang Wuming said with a self-deprecating smile, “As Ye Rui said, the Ye family never considered me a part of them.”
“What do you mean?”
Xia Xueqin was taken aback.
Although Ye Rui’s attitude towards Jiang Wuming today was bad, she thought it was Ye Rui’s personal behavior and did not represent the Ye family’s will. Now, hearing Jiang Wuming’s words, she realized something was amiss.
“A while ago…”
Jiang Wuming recounted his visit to Ye Rui’s home a while ago, how he was heartlessly rejected by Wang Hong and Ye Rui, and how they had warned him not to dream of associating with the Ye family. He told all this to Xia Xueqin.
“Alas… Wuming, it was Auntie’s foolishness.”
Xia Xueqin said with some self-reproach, “I should have realized it sooner. After all, when your mother passed away, the Ye family did nothing. And when your father avenged your mother, shaking the entire Dragon Country, the Ye family didn’t voice any support for your father.”
Jiang Wuming remained silent.
Although he had guessed these things through Xia Xueqin’s diary, “Remembering Jiang Zhan,” hearing Xia Xueqin say them out loud still made him feel uncomfortable.
After all, his mother, Ye Jinmei, was a descendant of the Ye family, and she was murdered by the Zhao family!
“Wuming, don’t be sad. Since ancient times, imperial families have been heartless. Throughout history, there have been countless instances of sons and brothers killing each other for the throne.
Although the Ye family isn’t an imperial family, it is one of the top wealthy families in Dragon Country, prioritizing profit in all matters.”
Xia Xueqin paused here, then revealed another secret, “Back then, the Ye family agreed to your mother marrying your father, and it was also driven by interests.
At that time, martial arts were gradually becoming prosperous, and the status and position of martial artists greatly increased. Your father’s talent and achievements in the field of martial arts were astonishing. He was a symbolic figure in the Dragon Country’s Military Department and the entire martial arts world, worthy of your mother.
In addition to this, there was another important reason.
The military had no martial artists before, but the Ye family, using the excuse that your father had come from the military, proposed setting up positions for martial artists in the military to handle special and urgent missions.
Your father strongly supported the military’s proposal at the time to preserve the War Dragon Special Forces.
As a result, the Ye family’s wish was fulfilled, but the War Dragon Special Forces were not preserved.”
“Why did the military disband the War Dragon Special Forces?” Jiang Wuming couldn’t help but ask.
“Because the Ye family and the military believed that although your father had left the military and joined the Military Department, his prestige and reputation in the War Dragon were still high, and he had strong influence. They wanted to establish a new benchmark to replace your father’s position in the military, so they first disbanded the War Dragon Special Forces.”
Xia Xueqin sneered, “But it’s a pity that after so many years, the Ye family’s wish has never been realized—no one can replace your father’s position in the Military Department, the military, and the martial arts world!
Whether it’s Gu Tianlong, the strongest successor of the Dragon Gate, or Ye Feng, who the military has painstakingly cultivated, they are not even fit to carry your father’s shoes!”
This time, Jiang Wuming remained silent.
Ye Feng.
He had seen this name in the Ye family’s records.
Ye Feng was a standard-bearer among the younger generation of the Ye family, and a key cultivated young powerhouse by the Ye family and the military. He rarely appeared, and his specific strength was unknown, but it was rumored to be no less than Gu Tianlong of the Dragon Gate.
…
While Xia Xueqin was informing Jiang Wuming of some hidden truths from the past, Ye Rui rushed back to Jinling overnight and returned to his parents’ home.
“Dad, this is what happened.”
In the study, Ye Rui informed Ye Wentao and Wang Hong of everything that had happened that afternoon.
Of course, he did not tell the truth.
For example, he did not reveal that Wang Zhisheng had beaten Su Qiang intentionally, only saying that the two had a conflict.
Instead, he focused on Jiang Wuming’s arrogant attitude and brutal methods towards him and Wang Zhisheng!
At the same time, he specifically mentioned Xia Xueqin’s arrogance—claiming to summon the pillars of the Dragon Country’s martial arts world to the Ye family to demand an explanation from Ye Zheng, and even threatening to break his leg in front of Ye Zheng!
“They rely on their strength, trample on the rules, and are lawless. They are simply too rampant!”
After listening to Ye Rui’s account, Wang Hong immediately exploded with anger, saying agitatedly, “Wentao, this is not just about our son and Zhisheng being bullied, but even Dad was named specifically!
Moreover, that woman named Xia Xueqin acted as if she was threatening our Ye family. She completely disregards us!
This matter absolutely cannot be let go. You should call Dad directly.
I believe Dad will definitely not let that ignorant Jiang Wuming and that woman Xia Xueqin act with impunity!”
“Ring, ring—”
As soon as Wang Hong finished speaking, the landline in the study rang.
Ye Wentao glanced at the caller ID number and his pupils instantly dilated. He grabbed the receiver and answered in front of Wang Hong and Ye Rui, “Dad.”
“Do you know about the matter in Donghai?”
Ye Zheng asked directly, his tone very low.
“Xiao Rui just rushed back, and I just heard him out,” Ye Wentao replied.
“Then how do you plan to handle this matter?” Ye Zheng asked again.
“Dad, I think we should remind or at least warn Wuming, but I haven’t figured out how to do it yet.” Ye Wentao’s expression was complicated.
If he were to believe Ye Rui’s account, he felt that Jiang Wuming had gone too far this time and deserved to be taught a lesson. However, if he were to disregard the connection with Ye Jinmei, he felt it would be too cruel to Jiang Wuming!
“No need to remind or warn him,” Ye Zheng said.
“Why?” Ye Wentao was stunned.
“He’s not worth it.”
Ye Zheng first responded, then issued instructions, “Tomorrow, you will go to the Dongyu War Zone stationed in the Military Department and find Qin Yuanzheng to do two things.”
“What things?”
“First, tell Qin Yuanzheng that everything that Jiang Wuming did is his personal behavior and has nothing to do with the Ye family!
Second, in the name of the military, remind Qin Yuanzheng that he must strictly handle this matter according to the Military Department’s regulations!”
Ye Zheng spoke again, his tone decisive.
“Uh…”
Ye Wentao was dumbfounded on the spot.
Wang Hong and Ye Rui’s mother and son were filled with excitement!
Because Ye Zheng’s decision was equivalent to informing the world that Jiang Wuming had no relationship with the Ye family, and they would also use the Ye family’s power to stab Jiang Wuming in the heart!
…