Chapter Fifty-Five: Lin Wangtian, Presenting Himself to the Teacher (Second Update)

Jiang Yu returned all the way to the small residential courtyard, with Gu Feifei and the others jogging to catch up. Usually, the talkative group led by Young Master Liu was now utterly silent, barely daring to breathe, obediently following behind Jiang Yu. As they recalled their mockery of him just days before, a chill swept over their bodies, their faces pale with terror.

The figure ahead had just slain Shen Wan’an. With a flick of his fingers, could he not easily extinguish them as well? The more they thought about it, the more frightened they became, their legs weak, nearly in tears from fear.

As soon as they arrived back at the courtyard, Young Master Liu gritted his teeth, and with a thud, knelt before Jiang Yu, trembling as he pleaded, “Master Jiang… the other day we were blind to your greatness. Please, don’t kill us. We’ll give you anything you want.”

He bowed his head repeatedly, glancing at Jiang Yu with a gaze full of both dread and awe.

Jiang Yu tilted his head, amused. “Who said I was going to kill you?”

Had he truly wanted to, Young Master Liu and his friends would have been dead long ago, their heads rolling, not given any chance to speak. To Jiang Yu, these were nothing more than wealthy youths out for a night of adventure, their words sharp but their hearts not evil. At least, when Jiang Yu was facing the scorn of the crowd earlier, Young Master Liu and his friends offered him a few kindly reminders, urging him not to act rashly, to quickly take his seat.

Hearing this, the group breathed a sigh of relief, collapsing onto the ground. Xia Qinghan and Gu Feifei, meanwhile, stood quietly where they were; as long as Jiang Yu said nothing, they dared not sit.

“Sit down, all of you. I’m not going to swallow you whole,” Jiang Yu said, half exasperated, half amused.

They stood there, so well-behaved and restrained, like students waiting in the courtyard, as if any sudden move from him would bring a blow from above.

“Jiang Yu, I…” Xia Qinghan’s head was bowed, her beautiful eyes full of regret.

She feared her image in Jiang Yu’s eyes had fallen even further.

Jiang Yu waved his hand. “What happened before, I won’t mention it. That means I won’t hold it against you. If I truly wanted to settle scores, your lives wouldn’t suffice for what I’d demand.”

Just then, voices sounded from outside the courtyard.

“Li Hao from Cloud City requests an audience!”

“Zhou Xu from Huaizhou requests an audience!”

“Xia Hou Sheng from the Xia family of Jiangbei requests an audience!”

The courtyard stirred, so many dignitaries arriving at once that even Young Master Liu and his friends were stunned.

Jiang Yu had expected such reactions. He knew that after his display of power, a steady stream of officials and elites would come to pay their respects. He waved his hand. “Go and bring them in.”

Standing beside Xia Qinghan, Lin Dong’s eyes were dim. Since their return, his mood was low, and he had not spoken a word. Jiang Yu had deliberately not mentioned him earlier, making it clear: this matter would be dealt with separately. What a joke—he had boldly claimed he would take a living legend as his disciple, and now he was terrified to his core.

Young Master Liu and the others, delighted, scrambled up to play the role of Jiang Yu’s loyal aides. Sure enough, with their newfound connection to Jiang Yu, those prominent figures looked at them with reverence.

The feeling was exhilarating.

Young Master Wang had never experienced such treatment, with so many dignitaries smiling at him. He felt light as air, as if even his bones had become weightless.

“So satisfying, unbelievably satisfying!”

Standing at the doorway, Young Master Wang announced calmly, “Master Jiang invites everyone inside.”

Several dignitaries clasped their hands in thanks. “Much obliged, young man.”

Young Master Wang waved grandly. “No need. As friends of Master Jiang, we may not possess his extraordinary talents, but we can certainly assist him with some chores.”

He emphasized the word “friends,” making it clear.

The owner of the courtyard nearly bulged his eyes out. He recognized Li Hao and the other Jiangbei elites. The underground arena at Kanglong Cave was built by their investment, and the local residents had profited handsomely.

Those lofty dignitaries now stood respectfully at his doorstep. The owner, mouth agape and arms full of firewood, was dumbfounded.

Young Master Liu and his friends stayed outside, taking on the role of doormen. As each visitor arrived, they checked credentials and announced the names inside.

“Wang Anhui, chairman of Haoyang Real Estate in Jinling, comes to visit!”

“Chen Guyuan, the richest man in Ning County, comes to visit!”

To Jiang Yu, these names made him smile inwardly. “Ning County… isn’t that where my parents live? I heard Chen Guyuan has been the county’s wealthiest for ten years, with assets over a billion and quite the reputation.”

One by one, eminent figures crowded into the small courtyard. Soon, the place was packed, many casting envious glances at Xia Qinghan and her companions, assuming their relationship with Jiang Yu must be close.

But how many could understand the bitterness in their hearts? If they were truly close, they would be overjoyed—not anxious.

With more and more visitors, the courtyard could no longer hold them; some millionaires had to settle for standing at the entrance, peering in from afar.

When had Jiangbei ever seen such a young master of power?

Everyone hoped to get acquainted, to befriend such a figure, no matter the cost.

“President Xia, any news from Shadow Kill?” Jiang Yu asked casually.

Xia Hou Sheng replied, “Now that Shen Wan’an has been slain, and they’ve lost a half-step master, Shadow Kill may not recover for a year or more.”

Jiang Yu nodded. “Good. When I have time, I’ll pay a visit to their headquarters myself, save them the trouble of searching for me all over.”

The crowd exchanged glances, realizing Jiang Yu intended to wipe out the organization in person. Such decisive and ruthless words shocked everyone, yet from his lips, they sounded effortless.

No one present doubted his intent.

The world is vast, but a true master is greater still. Where could they not go?

Unable to hold back, Gu Feifei whispered, “Jiang Yu, who are you really?”

Many looked at her—her alluring beauty and sensual figure were well-known from her years on the big screen. Everyone knew who she was, and many admired her, but in Jiang Yu’s presence, they dared not be presumptuous, quickly lowering their eyes after a glance.

Despite the influx of dignitaries, Jiang Yu’s manner remained indifferent, yet now he smiled, teasing Gu Feifei, “Who I am—you’ll soon find out.”

Just then, another name was announced at the door. “The richest man in Jiangbei, Ma Tianzong, comes to visit.”

Ma Tianzong, dressed in Tang-style attire, robust and full of energy, strode into the courtyard alone. His hair was graying, his body slightly overweight, a translucent jade pendant hanging at his waist.

Many inside the courtyard stepped aside to make way for him.

This was a man who stood toe-to-toe with the entire Xia family of Jiangbei, his assets worth hundreds of billions.

Under puzzled gazes, Ma Tianzong walked up to Jiang Yu, their eyes met for a moment, then he suddenly knelt and quietly said, “Tianzong pays his respects to Teacher.”

A stone cast into the lake stirred a thousand waves. Countless dignitaries were dumbfounded. Li Hao calling Jiang Yu “Teacher” was one thing—but the richest man in Jiangbei, Ma Tianzong, was also his disciple?

Li Mengxue, Xia Qinghan, and the other women opened their mouths in disbelief, feeling as if they were dreaming.

Jiang Yu stood up, turning his back to the crowd, his gaze gentle as he looked at Gu Feifei. “You asked who I am. Now you should know.”

Gu Feifei pressed her hands tightly over her mouth, tears streaming down her stunning face.

Her delicate body trembled, eyes wide and red, her sobs growing louder until finally she burst out, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier, Jiang Yu, you bastard!”

Her tone was filled with all the longing and grievances she had accumulated over the years.

Jiang Yu sighed, looking around at Xia Qinghan and Lin Dong. “If I told you earlier, would any of you have believed me?”

Indeed, had he claimed to be a grandmaster before, revered by all the dignitaries of Jiangbei, who would have believed him?

Young Master Liu and his friends stood at the entrance, their gazes sour as they looked at Jiang Yu.

Xia Qinghan glanced at Gu Feifei, bitterly amused. “So all these years, you turned down countless suitors—for Jiang Yu. He’s the one in your heart.”

At last, everything became clear.

But, alas, it was too late.

Jiang Yu took a deep breath. “Who could understand my troubles?”

Faced with the lamentations of this beautiful woman, even someone as formidable as Jiang Yu was flustered, unsure of how to respond.

Deep down, he knew he owed her far too much.

Many wanted to laugh but dared not; even this young master was helpless before a beauty.

“Rise,” Jiang Yu said, waving his hand.

Ma Tianzong felt something lift his knees, raising him from the ground.

“Lin Wangtian requests an audience!” came another announcement.

Lin Wangtian, looking disheveled and with tears in his tiger eyes, rushed in. Under Lin Dong’s dumbfounded gaze, he knelt forcefully before Jiang Yu.

“Wangtian pays his respects to Teacher.”

With a thud, Lin Dong’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.