In stunned silence, Ye Chengkang walked slowly all the way to Vice‑President Ou Yuanwu.
“President, what are you doing here?” Ou forced the anger down and kept his voice level.
Ye’s eyes narrowed; his tone was like ice. “What, since I’m the Guild President and this is the Guild council chamber, I’m not allowed to come in?”
“Of course not—” Ou began, but Ye cut him off, voice colder than before. “If that’s true, then why are you sitting in the president’s chair?”
The bluntness on Ye’s lips flushed Ou’s face crimson. He cast a discreet look down into the hall. Someone in the crowd met his gaze and rose to speak up. “President—well, you are the president—but you haven’t managed the Guild in years. If it weren’t for the Vice‑President, the Alchemy Guild would have fallen to pieces long ago.”
Ye turned and gave the man a cool once‑over, a mocking smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. “So your point is that I should be thanking Ou Yuanwu?”
The man said nothing, but his attitude spoke for him.
Ye scanned the rest of the room. Most of the senior council was present. A handful remained neutral, but the majority were Ou’s confidants. Ye’s smile hardened; his gaze cut straight to Ou. “Is that what you think too?”
Ou rose to his feet. “Of course not. As Vice‑President of the Alchemy Guild, it’s my duty to see the Guild is run properly.”
Ye nodded. “So you know your position. Then please… return to the vice‑president’s seat.”
The words stung. Ou’s expression tightened, then smoothed as he sank back down. No one had expected Ye to humiliate him so openly.
When Ye returned to his own seat, he addressed the assembly. “The alchemy contest is tomorrow. Bring me the contest procedures, the judges’ roster, and all related documents.”
Ou glanced downward at Liu Qi. Liu Qi stood and pulled several items from a spatial ring, handing them to Ye.
Ye skimmed the materials. Most of the judges were unfamiliar to him—no surprise; they were Ou’s people. He read every single document carefully, then looked up. “Because of what happened with Xianyu, I’ve neglected Guild affairs for too long. We’ll start with the alchemy contest. I won’t be a judge, but I’ll be following the contest from start to finish.”
A subtle shift crossed Ou’s face. The cronies who’d slipped in little favors and side deals looked markedly uncomfortable. They’d been counting on profiting from the contest; Ye’s intervention threatened to ruin their plans—and maybe bring trouble down on them.
Everyone present realized, then, that Ye Chengkang truly was returning to take charge.
He didn’t say more. After announcing his intentions, he rose and left. Ou’s followers watched him go, mouths opening and closing, unsure what to say.
…
At Ou Yuanwu’s estate, his supporters gathered in silence after he returned from the Guild. Ou looked over them. “What do you make of Ye Chengkang’s behavior today?”
“He’s been treating Ye Xianyu like precious porcelain,” Liu Qi said. “I even heard Ye Xianyu was on the brink of collapse the other day. We thought Ye Chengkang would sink even further—not come back like this.”
“Wang Lin, go check the back mountain—see what’s happened there,” Ou said.
“I’ll go now,” Wang Lin replied. He understood the urgency and left without delay.
“Whatever happens, we need a plan,” Liu Qi said. They all referred to Ou as “President” in private; in their minds he was the Guild leader, not Ye.
“There are many great lineages and secluded families coming,” Ou continued. “You must court them—pull them into our camp.”
Liu Qi bowed. “I’ll handle it.”
“Be careful, all of you. Don’t leave evidence,” Ou warned, his eyes dim. “Something was off about Ye today. He’s never publicly disrespected me like that.”
For years Ou had been cautious because Zi Xingzhou protected Ye Chengkang. If not for that, Ou would have been the rightful Guild President long ago. Now that Ye had returned with such bluntness, Ou’s mind raced. The only explanation he could think of was that Zi Xingzhou had told Ye something—or perhaps someone else had shifted the balance. The thought made his face worsen.
…
Feng Yuxin had only just arrived at the inn when the rumor spread like wildfire through Tiancheng—she had a talking spirit pet.
The news caused an uproar. In Tiancheng, spirit companions were common only among the talented youths of great families; a pet that could speak was unheard of. The whispering quickened into outright gossip. Feng Yuxin’s situation was now a storm waiting to break.
Mu Weizhu was stunned. “What did you say? Feng Yuxin has a talking spirit pet?” she asked Hong Xiaoxiao in disbelief.
“It’s everywhere,” Hong said, a small green edge in her voice. “Ask anyone who’s been around today—no one doesn’t know.”
From what Mu had heard, Feng Yuxin came from some small, backward state—a country bumpkin, essentially. A bumpkin with a talking spirit pet? It grated against everything Mu believed about status and birthright.
“How could someone with no background even get such a thing?” Mu asked, skeptical.
Hong glanced at her and said, “She might have no family clout, but she has Young Master Mo backing her.”
Mu’s eyes hardened, a cold light in them. “Do you mean Brother Ye gave her the spirit pet?”
Hong’s face betrayed a flicker of glee when Mu reacted. “I only said what I heard. Someone with no background doesn’t just receive a talking spirit pet on their own. Someone must be helping her.” She folded her hands, the jealousy unmistakable. The idea of a talking spirit pet made her green with envy.