Chapter Sixty-Four: Master of the Golden Blade Sect!

Chapter Sixty-four: The Golden Blade Sect Master!

With a sharp rebuke from Ye Ying’er, Young Master Jin immediately halted, stopping where he stood.

“So it’s you, Ying’er!” he greeted her warmly, “I haven’t seen you in days, and you’ve become even more beautiful.”

Ye Ying’er shot him a glare, ignoring him entirely as she walked straight toward Shi Bai.

“Mr. Shi… I’m truly sorry for being late.”

Shi Bai waved his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing.”

Ye Ying’er turned to Li Ruyi, cupping her fists in greeting. “Sister Ruyi, this Mr. Shi is my friend. Please allow him inside.”

Li Ruyi paused in surprise. “You have friends like this?”

The implication was clear: how could Ye Ying’er possibly befriend an ordinary person?

Ye Ying’er replied, “He… isn’t an ordinary person.”

Li Ruyi glanced at her, a sly smile on her lips. “Not an ordinary person? So he’s your boyfriend, then?”

A flush crept over Ye Ying’er’s cheeks. “Sister Ruyi! Please, don’t tease me!” She stole a glance at Shi Bai as she spoke.

Young Master Jin’s brow furrowed as he strode over. “Ying’er? Is this boy your boyfriend?”

The question left Ye Ying’er flustered. Her feelings for Shi Bai were complicated—admiration mingled with awe. Her heart belonged to someone else, yet her family tried every means to pair her with others. To say no would close the door on Shi Bai; to say yes, she couldn’t bring herself to utter it. Stamping her foot, she said, “What business is it of yours!”

Young Master Jin’s heart sank. In his eyes, a woman who didn’t explicitly refuse must be interested. Her hesitance said everything.

“Damn it!” He ground his teeth in frustration.

Ye Ying’er was one of the city’s foremost beauties, and he had pursued her for some time. He had always thought his only rival was Shangguan Yunfei—who would have expected Shi Bai to appear from nowhere?

“Ying’er!” Young Master Jin seized her shoulders. “He’s just an ordinary man. There’s no way for you two!”

Ye Ying’er shoved him away. “Don’t touch me!”

Frustration contorted Young Master Jin’s face as he glared furiously at Shi Bai. “Boy, do you know who we are?”

Shi Bai raised his brows. “And who are you?”

“We are martial artists!”

Shi Bai smirked. “So what?”

This response drew frowns from the onlookers. Although few liked Young Master Jin, all took pride in their status. Shi Bai’s words clearly displeased them.

Young Master Jin narrowed his eyes at Shi Bai. “Do you even know what the martial world is?”

Shi Bai replied coolly, “I don’t, nor do I care. In my eyes, you’re just a bunch of performers.”

Everyone was stunned.

“Ying’er!” Li Ruyi said. “This friend of yours has quite the mouth on him!”

“You insolent brat!” Liu Heming glared at Shi Bai as well.

Ye Ying’er grew flustered. She knew Shi Bai’s ways well and now regretted not just bringing him in directly rather than wasting time on this pointless exchange.

“Sister Ruyi, Master Liu, Mr. Shi truly is a friend of my family. Please let him in! If you don’t believe me, ask my grandfather when he arrives.”

Li Ruyi and Liu Heming hesitated. The Ye family would hardly joke about such a matter. Just as they were about to agree, a fresh commotion broke out as another group approached.

“Hahaha! Liu the Sissy, you’re here early!”

The voice was thunderous, shaking eardrums and stirring the blood of those present.

Turning, Shi Bai saw a burly man in black, a golden belt at his waist. He carried a massive golden saber, two meters long, swaggering like a pompous official.

“Father!” Young Master Jin hurried to salute him, and Li Ruyi gave a slight nod of respect.

Liu Heming, however, sneered. “You’re not late yourself, Fat Jin.”

The burly man laughed heartily, unfazed, and turned to Li Ruyi. “Why are you all lingering outside? What’s the holdup?”

Young Master Jin replied, “An ordinary man wants to enter. Sister Ying’er claims he’s a family friend.”

The Golden Blade Sect Master’s gaze turned cold. Though his son fancied Ye Ying’er, he himself did not care for the Ye family; the two families had clashed behind closed doors many times.

“An ordinary man?” He cast a sidelong glance at Shi Bai. “Ordinary people aren’t allowed in. That’s the rule—only martial families may enter; all others are strictly forbidden.”

He looked at Ye Ying’er with a mocking smile. “I doubt the Ye family would break the rules, would they?”

Young Master Jin stood proudly at his father’s side, arms crossed in satisfaction.

Li Ruyi remained noncommittal.

Liu Heming stroked his goatee, looking on with amusement.

Ye Ying’er grew anxious. “Sect Master Jin, he truly is a friend of our family. The rules only bar non-martial people, not our friends!”

The sect master sneered, “Even if he’s your friend, he’s still just an ordinary man. I must say, Ye family girls are really unruly—must you break the rules?”

“It’s not like that…” Ye Ying’er protested helplessly.

“Enough!” Unexpectedly, Shi Bai’s voice rang out, loud and clear. “What’s with all this martial world nonsense? All you saber-wielders, who do you think you are to bar my entry? Just say what you want!”

The entire gathering was stunned—no one could believe Shi Bai dared speak so brazenly.

The Golden Blade Sect Master’s brow knitted; his robe fluttered without wind, and suddenly a powerful pressure bore down on them. It was as if the very air had thinned.

“What an arrogant brat. You’re courting death!”

His hands shaped into claws, weaving through the air, unleashing a tremendous suction force toward Shi Bai.

The crowd was aghast. The sect master was truly enraged—if Shi Bai were struck, he would surely not survive.

Young Master Jin stepped aside, a sinister smile on his face.

Li Ruyi, though pained, did nothing.

Liu Heming stroked his beard, ready for a good show.

Only Ye Ying’er looked around in distress, at a complete loss.

Just then, the sect master let out a bellow, his hands intensifying the suction—Shi Bai’s clothes and hair streamed toward him, dust swirling at his feet.

The gatekeepers’ faces changed. All thought, “This boy is finished!”

“Stop!” Suddenly, a towering figure leapt between Shi Bai and the sect master.

With a swing of his fist, he engaged the Golden Blade Sect Master in combat.

The crowd gasped, “Iron Tyrant, Li Jiankui!”

“When did he become enemies with the Golden Blade Sect?”

“I have no idea!”

“Isn’t he from the southern city? Why is he clashing with the eastern city now?”

Liu Heming squinted, his expression shifting. “Li Jiankui is brave, but not reckless. He’s always prudent—why confront Fat Jin today? His martial skill is ranked lowest among the four city lords, so he has no reason to challenge the Golden Blade Sect!”

He frowned, suddenly shooting a sharp glance at Shi Bai. “Could it be… that all of this is because of this young man?”