Chapter Seventy-Six: He Is Not Someone You Can Afford to Offend

Three days later, on a tour bus returning to Cloud City.

Jiang Yu gazed softly at the scenery outside the window. By his reckoning, he had already been away from Cloud City for more than two months—from the desert town to Yuzhou, slaying countless worldly martial artists along the way, even the half-step master Shen Wan’an had perished by his hand.

For two months, Jiang Yu had lived amidst slaughter.

Relying on his own strength, he had forced countless tycoons and powerful figures to bow and submit, compelling the hidden sects to retreat step by step.

Now, sitting on the bus and enjoying the tranquil, harmonious atmosphere, Jiang Yu felt quite at ease. After leaving that night, he had parted ways with Ma Tianzong, Lin Wangtian, and the others. All were influential figures, each with their own unresolved matters.

After bidding them farewell, Jiang Yu found a tour bus heading back to Cloud City and embarked on the journey alone.

He was deep in thought when a pleasant voice suddenly interrupted him: “Excuse me, may I get through?”

Looking up, he saw a girl with delicate, porcelain-like features supporting an elderly man, standing before him. It turned out he was blocking her from the inner seat. The old man, frail and sparse-haired, was clearly nearing the twilight of his years.

The elderly man trembled and needed someone’s support to barely stand. Jiang Yu could even see the decline within his body—his bones and meridians, his organs verging on exhaustion. At most, he had three years left before passing away.

The bus was already full, with only the seat beside Jiang Yu available. Smiling, Jiang Yu stood up, “You and the old gentleman can sit here.”

The girl’s face was full of apology: “Oh? But what about you? It’s at least a day’s journey from here to Cloud City. You can’t possibly stand for the whole trip, can you?”

Jiang Yu stepped aside, his gentle smile reassuring, and waved his hand: “It’s fine. I’m young and strong—a bit of standing won’t hurt me.”

The girl gave Jiang Yu a grateful look and helped the old man settle in. Judging by her demeanor, he was likely a family elder. “Thank you. By the way, my name is Kong Xi. What’s yours?”

Jiang Yu smiled lightly and replied, “Jiang Yu.”

Just then, another girl boarded the bus. Tall and stylish, her long hair draped over her shoulders. She carried bags of all sizes, struggling under their weight. Upon entering, she pouted and complained, “Kong Xi, just wait till we get home and I sort you out. Dragging me into your mess is one thing, but tricking me into carrying your luggage?”

Kong Xi, a bit embarrassed, introduced her to Jiang Yu: “My friend, Zhao Xiaoqian.”

Jiang Yu nodded and helped her stow her luggage neatly, but she showed no appreciation. She sized him up and sneered: “Alright, don’t think I don’t know your little schemes. All men are the same. If you’re being attentive for no reason, you’re either a scoundrel or a thief.”

Jiang Yu was momentarily bewildered.

Zhao Xiaoqian continued, “First you help with my bags, then you strike up a conversation, gradually getting friendly, and eventually ask for my contact info, right? Why aren’t you saying anything—did I hit the nail on the head?”

Jiang Yu couldn’t help but laugh, but he didn’t bother to argue.

This woman seemed rather arrogant.

Kong Xi hurriedly interjected, “Xiaoqian, stop. Grandpa and I only got these seats thanks to Jiang Yu.”

Zhao Xiaoqian’s tone turned sarcastic: “Who knows what he’s after? Kong Xi, you’re just too naïve. Never harbor ill intent, but always be wary. When you’re out and about, caution is key.”

As if venting her frustration, she jabbed Kong Xi’s forehead with her finger: “You’re too innocent. If someone tricks you, I won’t be responsible.”

When she said “someone,” Zhao Xiaoqian looked at Jiang Yu, emphasizing the word.

Jiang Yu said nothing, but frowned. Since Kong Xi and Zhao Xiaoqian boarded, a BMW SUV had been trailing the bus.

“Looks like trouble is following,” he thought.

Just as he was about to warn them, Kong Xi interrupted.

“Are you visiting Yuzhou as well?” she asked.

Jiang Yu smiled and nodded: “Yes, I’m taking advantage of the holidays to travel.”

As for Zhao Xiaoqian, she squeezed into the same seat with Kong Xi. Though it was cramped, girls were generally petite, so they managed. She bowed her head, playing with her phone.

Every so often, she exclaimed about someone being blacklisted; she was reading web news about the recent celebrity ban that had stirred up so much discussion.

Afterward, Jiang Yu chatted with Kong Xi for a while. With a long journey ahead, having someone to talk to was a welcome distraction.

Kong Xi’s appearance was unremarkable, but she carried herself with grace—her demeanor and speech were gentle and refined. She looked like a delicately crafted doll, wearing Italian Cosetta cartoon sandals and international-brand clothes and skirts.

Compared to Zhao Xiaoqian’s mature style, Kong Xi leaned toward the cute.

Through their conversation, Jiang Yu learned that Kong Xi was a student at Cloud City No. 1 High School, taking advantage of the break before graduation to handle some affairs in Yuzhou. She didn’t elaborate, but when the topic arose, her face showed fear, as though she had survived a calamity.

Although they were at the same school but in different classes, their coincidental meeting made Kong Xi more talkative, creating a lively atmosphere.

Suddenly, Zhao Xiaoqian looked up from her phone: “Jiang Yu? Isn’t the top scorer in the recent mock exam also called Jiang Yu?”

Kong Xi slapped her thigh: “Oh, that’s why your name sounded familiar earlier! Now that you mention it, I remember.”

Jiang Yu smiled: “If there’s no other Jiang Yu at Cloud City No. 1 High, then the person you’re talking about must be me.”

This piqued Zhao Xiaoqian’s curiosity. She scrutinized Jiang Yu, only to find the boy dressed quite plainly—no designer labels or trendy outfits. His entire ensemble could have come from a street vendor.

Zhao Xiaoqian curled her lip and muttered, “So he’s a bookworm. In this day and age, what good does studying do? In the end, you’ll be working for us, earning a few thousand yuan a month.”

From their conversation, Jiang Yu learned that Kong Xi was the daughter of a listed company in Cloud City, with assets in the tens of millions. Zhao Xiaoqian was also well-off, the only daughter of a restaurant chain owner, whose franchise fees alone exceeded twenty million last year.

Both were true heiresses.

No wonder Kong Xi’s outfit cost at least several thousand.

The elderly man at Kong Xi’s side was her grandfather, who had retired a few years prior and was enjoying his twilight years—her father now managed all company affairs.

Jiang Yu turned to look toward the back of the bus, quietly warning, “Be careful. There’s an SUV trailing behind, ever since you boarded.”

At his words, both Kong Xi and Zhao Xiaoqian’s expressions changed.

Zhao Xiaoqian panicked: “What do we do? They’ve caught up. Kong Xi, I told you this plan wouldn’t work. You refused to listen—skipping out on your engagement party with Grandpa, and dragging me across the country to cover for you.”

Kong Xi’s face darkened: “But I don’t like Zhang Hao. What else can I do but run away? If my parents like him so much, they can marry him themselves.”

Hearing the talk of engagement, Jiang Yu couldn’t help but think of Zheng Xuan. If she hadn’t come to break off the engagement, perhaps she’d already be his wife in name.

His parents had arranged the marriage; if Zheng Xuan agreed, Jiang Yu wouldn’t object.

Marriages were becoming chips in the exchange of interests among the wealthy.

Countless people’s happiness was sacrificed to this trend—facing a face, day after day, for whom you felt nothing but disgust, could drive anyone to despair.

As Jiang Yu pondered, the SUV suddenly sped ahead, cutting off the bus in the middle of the road and forcing it to a halt.

Several young men with steel pipes got out.

The leader, about thirty, sported dyed yellow hair and a sleeveless shirt, his arms covered in tattoos. He thumped the bus door with his pipe, signaling the driver to open it.

The driver, white-faced with fear, hurriedly complied. The men surged aboard, searching the bus until their eyes settled on Kong Xi and Zhao Xiaoqian.

“Hmph, you ran pretty fast. But this is my turf. If Young Master Zhang doesn’t want you to leave, do you think you can escape my grasp?”

Kong Xi gasped, “Zhou Feng? How did this local thug catch up?”

From her tone, she not only knew Zhou Feng but feared him.

“What’s going on?” Jiang Yu asked, curious.

Kong Xi forced a smile: “Zhou Feng is a subordinate of my fiancé, Zhang Hao. His family runs bars and entertainment venues in Yuzhou; several streets in the nightlife district belong to them. Zhou Feng is their top enforcer, with dozens of thugs under him, all living off Zhang Hao’s family.”

Yuzhou?

Jiang Yu stroked his chin, recalling that young Liu had mentioned his reputation in Yuzhou, with many people respecting him. Xu Yuan had also said Liu was one of Yuzhou’s ‘Four Young Masters’ during their visit to Tengshan Hot Springs.

“Kid, move,” Zhou Feng barked, shoving Jiang Yu, but it was like pushing a mountain—Jiang Yu didn’t budge.

Jiang Yu chuckled, “Are you talking to me?”

Zhou Feng, full of arrogance, raised his voice: “I’m not talking to the air, am I? Kid, mind your own business, or I’ll break your legs and leave you by the roadside. If you get hurt, you’ll have no one to blame.”

With that, he reached for Kong Xi, sending both girls into a trembling embrace.

“Miss, Hao said if I don’t bring you back today, I’ll lose a hand. I can’t afford that, so please don’t make this harder for me.”

Jiang Yu smiled, then suddenly slapped Zhou Feng.

No one expected the gentle, sunny youth would act so abruptly.

Smack!

The bus was stunned into silence, everyone staring at Jiang Yu.

“Jiang Yu, you can’t afford to provoke him!” Kong Xi cried out in alarm.