Chapter Five: Not to Be Trifled With

The moment the news hit, everyone in the room was stunned. Instantly, all eyes turned to Ye Yan, their expressions filled with disbelief.

Who was Ding Shian? Anyone who had ever mingled in the world of the Unorthodox would know the weight his name carried. He was the undisputed leader of the Faction of All Truth, acknowledged as one of the two great champions of the Unorthodox world—standing shoulder to shoulder with that tiger-like figure, the top representative of the Ancient Relics Chamber among the Ten Elders.

And Ye Yan? Famous as a Night Watcher, he had become one of the most sought-after personalities in recent years. Young, fiercely skilled, and ruthlessly efficient. Many old hands in the circles had fallen to him, earning him a notorious reputation. No one knew where Ye Yan had learned his craft, but the strange and formidable techniques he wielded made even the Six Scoundrels of All Truth and their gathered masters wary; many had suffered grievous losses at his hand.

Yet, despite all of this, no one would have ever thought to compare a newcomer like Ye Yan to Ding Shian.

And now, someone of Ding Shian’s stature had issued a public challenge to Ye Yan. News like this was nothing short of a bombshell, sending shockwaves through the Unorthodox world. Like a stone thrown into still water, it was certain to set the entire circle ablaze.

Feng Shayan, holding her phone, looked at the yawning Ye Yan on the bed. Her initial shock slowly gave way to utter bafflement.

“Ye Yan, Ding Shian—one of the two great champions—has openly challenged you. Aren’t you surprised?”

“Surprised?” Ye Yan waved a hand dismissively. “What’s there to be surprised about? It’s just a challenge. That guy tried to arrange a match with me a few days ago, but I turned him down.”

Ye Yan spoke as if it were nothing.

But Feng Shayan nearly dropped her jaw in astonishment. “Turned him down? You actually refused? This is Ding Shian, one of the two great champions!”

“So what?” Ye Yan, barely interested, took a drag from his cigarette.

Feng Shayan raised her hands, looking as though she wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Feng Zhenghao.

“Shayan, calm down.”

“Yes, Father.” Feng Shayan took a deep breath and finally managed to compose herself, falling silent.

“Ye, are you going to refuse?” Feng Zhenghao turned to him, his face unusually grave.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Ye Yan replied, stroking his chin.

“This is a rare opportunity for you. You know, Ding Shian hasn’t issued an open challenge like this since he made his name. The last time was against the other champion, that tiger-like figure—only then was there such commotion.”

“Impressive, Ye,” Feng Zhenghao said, clearly interested. After all, not just anyone was worthy of being challenged by Ding Shian. In a way, it was an honor—a recognition of one’s strength.

“Besides, Ye, you’ve reached something of a bottleneck in your abilities, haven’t you? Fighting a formidable opponent might just be what you need.”

“Uncle Feng, when you put it that way, it does sound like something I should consider. So, do you think I should accept Ding Shian’s challenge?” Ye Yan asked after a moment’s thought.

“That’s up to you,” Feng Zhenghao replied, offering no further advice. He simply laid out the facts, leaving the decision to Ye Yan.

Ye Yan smiled, lit another cigarette, and after a brief pause, spoke again. “All right, I wasn’t planning to accept at first, but since you’ve said your piece, Uncle Feng, I’ll take him up on it.”

...

“Xu San, everything’s settled on my end. I’m leaving—any objections?” Xia He ran her fingers through her hair, her voice smooth and tinged with electricity as she addressed Xu San not far away.

As for the people gathering around, she paid them no mind.

Before her words had faded, an employee from the Everywhere Corporation charged at her, fist raised. But before he could get close, Xu San intercepted him. “Stop. Your targets are the other two. Don’t waste your time on her.”

At Xu San’s command, the group surrounding Xia He immediately broke off to pursue Lü Liang and Liu Yanyan, who had just fled.

The area soon emptied.

With the employees gone, Xia He gradually relaxed. She lifted her chin, casting a provocative glance at Xu San in the distance. “Oh? Didn’t you just say I wasn’t going anywhere?”

Xu San didn’t take offense. He simply adjusted his glasses with a calm hand. Under the night sky, his clear lenses caught a faint glint as he finally spoke.

“Xia He, you were never the target this time. And don’t think that just because you have someone to rely on, you can do as you please. This isn’t over.”

“Take care of yourself,” he added, his tone heavy with warning.

But Xia He showed no fear. She raised her slender, swan-like neck, snorted softly, and rode off on her motorcycle, leaving the battlefield behind as though nothing had happened.

After she was gone, Xu San let out a quiet sigh. He watched her receding silhouette without a word.

At that moment, a middle-aged man, who hadn’t left with the others but remained by Xu San’s side, finally voiced his confusion. “You’re just letting her go?”

The employee was clearly baffled. From his perspective, this was the perfect chance to detain Xia He. She was the Bone-Cleaver, one of the Four Wild Cards of All Truth—who knew what trouble she might cause if left unchecked? With so many people on their side, and with Xu San present, surely they could have at least tried to capture her.

But they hadn’t even attempted it. She was simply allowed to walk away.

Was this some kind of beaver logic? Certainly not.

Xu San adjusted his glasses, withdrew his gaze, and explained, “She’s formidable in her own right. For us to try and take her down by force would be reckless—and especially at this critical juncture, we absolutely cannot make a move against her.”

“Critical juncture?” the employee echoed, still at a loss.

“In short, unless that woman does something truly outrageous—so egregious that headquarters has no choice but to intervene—we leave her be,” Xu San said. “Most of the time, we use a conciliatory approach with her.”

“She’s not someone to be trifled with.”

“Not to be trifled with?” A woman even headquarters was wary of? Was one of the Four Wild Cards of All Truth really that terrifying?

Though he still didn’t quite understand, the employee recognized there were deeper layers at play. Sensibly, he refrained from further questions and nodded, half understanding, then fell silent.

“All right, forget about her. Someone else will take care of her if needed. Our only goal now is to catch the other two.”

“Yes, sir!” With that, the employee ran off, leaving Xu San alone beneath the night sky, gazing upward.