Starting Reward – A Three Thousand Assassin Network - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Crisis Hidden in the Dark

Upon hearing this, Ye Dingtian didn’t get angry. Instead, he rubbed his hands together, much like a fly, and chuckled, “Dear grandson, the cigarettes you gave grandpa are all gone, now I’ve got nothing to do, and the mouth feels idle.”

Ye Chen was speechless. He’d just given the old man a pack at the beginning of the month, and now, in just a few days, it was gone. Quite the smoker, this old man.

Looking at his grandson’s expression, Ye Dingtian hurriedly explained, “Dear grandson, you can’t blame me. I only smoked half of those cigarettes; the rest was blown away by the wind. Can you blame me for that?”

After saying this, Ye Dingtian clapped his hands and then spread them, wearing a helpless expression on his face.

Goodness, Ye Chen thought, this was quite the excuse for smoking. The old man really went all out for it.

Seeing the old man’s expression, Ye Chen was speechless and immediately signaled Tian Yan with a glance.

Tian Yan understood, smiled, bowed to Old Master Ye, then turned and walked towards Ye Chen’s room.

Watching Tian Yan’s departing figure, Ye Dingtian’s old face lit up with a smile.

“Haha, dear grandson, your maid not only looks good but is also very smart!”

“Of course, otherwise, would she be allowed to stay by my side?” Ye Chen rolled his eyes at the old man and then raised his head proudly.

Ye Dingtian nodded vigorously, fully agreeing with the statement. Then he changed the subject, “Dear grandson, now that you’re twelve, do you have any aspirations? Like becoming the highest official or marrying the most beautiful woman?”

Ye Chen furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, and then looked at Ye Dingtian earnestly, “Old Master, aspirations are something I gave up at three. I’m in the sage mode now.”

“What, gave up? What is this Sage mode again?” Ye Dingtian stared wide-eyed at his dear grandson, a look of shock on his face.

Gave up on aspirations? Could it be that his dear grandson had no desires or ambitions?

Everyone has needs, right?

With needs come aspirations, right?

Could it be that his dear grandson had seen through the world’s illusions?

Thinking this, Ye Dingtian immediately went into lecturing mode: “Dear grandson, this won’t do. You absolutely cannot become a monk! The Ye family still needs your descendants! Besides, if a person lacks aspirations, how are they different from a salted fish? Even a salted fish flips itself over!”

At these words, Ye Chen looked puzzled. How did this conversation end up about becoming a monk? Was the old man sick or something?

Thinking this, Ye Chen immediately stood up from the recliner and reached out to touch his forehead.

“No fever! Why all this nonsense? Why would I become a monk when I’m the most leisurely salted fish if there ever was one?”

Ye Dingtian slapped away Ye Chen’s arm and asked, “Dear grandson, you won’t become a monk?”

“Who told you I was going to become a monk?” Ye Chen rolled his eyes.

“Uh, haha, good that you won’t become a monk, good that you won’t!” Ye Dingtian looked relieved.

Ye Chen, looking at the old man’s expression, was even more speechless. He didn’t know what illness had befallen him today, spouting all sorts of nonsense.

At that moment, Tian Yan returned, holding a pack of Huazi* cigarettes in her hand.

Seeing the cigarette in Tian Yan’s hand, Ye Dingtian’s eyes widened instantly. He wished his eyes were on top of each other; his excitement was palpable.

“Old man, smoking is bad for health, smoke less,” Ye Chen reminded.

“Haha, it’s fine, this old man is healthy. Even if I smoke two at once, it’s fine. Besides, the more I smoke, the more energetic I become!” Ye Dingtian chuckled and then looked at Ye Chen, saying, “Remember that phrase you said before, ‘after a meal, a cigarette is like an immortal’s elixir!'”

Saying this, Ye Dingtian came to Tian Yan’s side, extending his right hand, implying the request.

Seeing this, Tian Yan looked at Ye Chen, only passing the cigarette to Old Master Ye upon Ye Chen’s approval.

Ye Dingtian, witnessing this action, not only didn’t get angry but became even happier.

“Little girl, not bad, really good, haha!”

Having accomplished his purpose, Ye Dingtian naturally didn’t stay longer, one hand holding the cigarette, the other behind him, and laughing heartily, he left.

“Haha, dear grandson, I’ll come see you when I have time!”

Watching the formidable figure of the old man, Ye Chen murmured to himself.

“Just as I came laughing heartily, I leave laughing heartily, waving a hand and taking away my cigarettes!”

“Hmph! Who cares if you come to see me.”

Afterward, couldn’t resist complaining, “Saying you came to visit me, but as long as one’s not blind, it’s clear there’s an agenda! Such a tricky old man, very cunning!”

“Haha!” Tian Yan covered her mouth and chuckled beside him.

Even the two maids were similar. These two maids were arranged by the old man to take care of Ye Chen’s daily life. They were twin sisters. Although not breathtakingly beautiful, they were considered beauties. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been arranged here. The elder sister was called Xiaoyue, and the younger sister was called Xing’er.

“Ah, I just closed and opened my eyes and a whole day went by!”

After saying this, he looked up at the sky, feeling the dusk’s setting sun particularly bright.

“The afterglow of the setting sun, a storm is coming!”

Saying this, he turned his head to Tian Yan. “Prepare. We’re going fishing tomorrow!”

“Fishing?” Tian Yan was confused. “I remember the young master didn’t like fishing before. Why the sudden interest?”

Seeing Tian Yan a bit distracted, Ye Chen waved his hand in front of her eyes.

“What are you thinking? So lost in thought!”

Tian Yan snapped back, “I remember the young master used to dislike fishing, you always thought it was a waste of time.”

“Haha, times change. Haven’t you heard this saying?” Ye Chen revealed a meaningful smile.

“The bigger the storm, the bigger the fish!” After saying this, Ye Chen turned and left.

Watching Ye Chen’s departing figure, at that moment, Tian Yan felt that their young master was no longer as carefree as before but now seemed mysterious.

…

At night, in Old Master Ye’s room, a dark figure knelt in front of Ye Dingtian.

“Master, I’ve just received information. The one in the palace might not have much time left. They say he has at most three more years. Additionally, they’ve been passing on some information outside the palace, but the specifics aren’t clear yet.”

Hearing this, Ye Dingtian’s eyes narrowed. At this moment, he wasn’t the playful and smiling person from daytime but a very dignified general, his face extremely serious. Even the middle-aged man standing beside him felt immense pressure.

“Is this information accurate?”

The dark-clad man kneeling immediately said, “This information came from Divine Physician Chang; they say it’s due to a mishap in cultivation, causing a reversal in true essence and severe damage to all his meridians. He’s been in a coma ever since.”

Divine Physician Chang, whose name was Chang Baichuan, was known for his Nine Needle Reversal technique. It was said that as long as there was a breath left, he could snatch a person back from the hands of the King of Hell.

“You may leave first. Investigate the accuracy of this news thoroughly, and also find out to whom they passed on this information.”

“Yes!” The black-clad man acknowledged and retreated!

“Dad …” Seeing the man in black leave, the middle-aged man beside him was about to speak, but Ye Dingtian interrupted.

“Regardless of whether this is true or false, we must prepare on both fronts. Although the Great Xia Dynasty has just pacified external threats, I’m afraid the royal family is wary of our Ye family’s power. After all, the Ye family controls the half a million troops in Liangzhou.”

“These half a million troops, no matter who controls them, will make that person wary, let alone if it’s our Ye family!”

“What should we do?” At this point, the middle-aged man asked.

He was Ye Chen’s father, Ye Wudao, also the Grand General guarding the northern frontiers for the Great Xia Dynasty.

“Snap!” The sound of a lighter echoed in the room, followed by a wisp of smoke rising.

“Phew!”

Ye Dingtian took a deep drag on the cigarette, then slowly exhaled, sitting on a grand chair, squinting his eyes in contemplation.

And Ye Wudao could only wait, but his eyes were fixed on the cigarette in the old man’s hand.