Chapter 4: A Lifetime of Protection-Just Came Down the Mountain and Was Surrounded by Beautiful Senior Sisters(A Lonely Scene on the Desert)

"You..." Zhang Shihao flew into a rage, about to curse, but when he looked closely, his gaze involuntarily trembled. "You... you’re Ye Tian?!"

"So, you still remember." Ye Tian spoke coldly. "You want to marry Li Muqing? Are you even worthy?"

"You..." Zhang Shihao’s face twisted in humiliation.

Five years ago, the Ye family was the foremost noble house in Central City, and Ye Tian was its eldest son. Countless people were willing to be his lackeys.

Zhang Shihao was one of them, always serving at Ye Tian’s side, hoping to gain favors and benefits.

After the Ye family was annihilated, he sought new patrons, fawning over powerful clans, and eventually elevated his own family to the current second-tier status.

He’d long since forgotten Ye Tian.

Who could have guessed that Ye Tian hadn’t died—and now, he’d ruined his wedding in front of everyone!

"So it’s you!" Li Muqing also recognized Ye Tian at this moment, astonished.

Back then, after the Ye family was wiped out, Ye Tian's heart was torn out, and his corpse lay in the wilderness.

She happened upon him by chance, couldn’t bear to leave him so pitiable, and hearing that a master lived on the mountain, she carried Ye Tian up the slope for three days and nights with nothing but hope.

Miraculously, he survived.

"Yes, it’s me." Ye Tian’s gaze was unwavering. "Li Muqing, you carried me for three days and nights back then. Henceforth, I will protect you for the rest of your life!"

"As long as you don’t wish to do something, no one can force you!"

"I..." For reasons she couldn’t name, meeting Ye Tian again filled Li Muqing with sorrow she longed to pour out. But when the words reached her lips, she swallowed them. "Ye Tian, you’ve survived—then live well. Don’t get entangled in any more troubles."

"My own affairs, I’ll resolve myself."

"You should go!"

"I won’t leave." Ye Tian gently shook his head. "Li Muqing, not to mention a mere Zhang Shihao—even if all of Central City stood against me, no one could do me harm."

Watching the deep affection between the two, Zhang Shihao clenched his fists till his knuckles turned white.

Today was his wedding day!

Li Muqing was his bride!

And now, Ye Tian had appeared out of nowhere, exchanging tender glances with Li Muqing, treating him as if he were invisible!

It was an enormous humiliation!

"Ye Tian, shut your mouth!" Zhang Shihao shouted. "Do you still think you’re the illustrious eldest son from five years ago? The Ye family is gone. Even if you lucked out and survived, you’re nothing but a stray dog!"

"In consideration of our former acquaintance, I’ll give you a chance—kneel, acknowledge me as your master, and I’ll spare your life!"

"Ridiculous. Are you even qualified?" Ye Tian sneered.

"You asked for this!" Zhang Shihao was livid. "Men, seize him!"

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

A dozen well-trained bodyguards in suits rushed out and surrounded Ye Tian.

"Ye Tian, hurry and leave!" Li Muqing cried out.

"Heh, too late to run now!" Zhang Shihao’s gaze was venomous. "Li Muqing, you seem to care about him. In that case, I’ll kill him before your eyes!"

No sooner had he finished, than the bodyguards attacked in unison.

"These pitiful fools?" Ye Tian raised his arm and threw a sudden punch.

Boom!

Spurt, spurt, spurt!

Figures flew, blood splattered.

Before the bodyguards could even get close, they were hurled away, coughing blood, utterly incapacitated.

"What?" Zhang Shihao was stunned. "Ye Tian, you’ve grown skilled in five years!"

"Yet after five years, you still can’t shake your fate as a lackey." Ye Tian’s tone was scornful.

"You arrogant bastard, think you’re invincible just for beating up a few bodyguards? Let me show you what a true master looks like!" Zhang Shihao spat, then turned to a middle-aged man beside him. "Uncle Dao, I’ll need your help!"

"Ye Tian, listen well. My Uncle Dao is an Earth-ranked martial artist, a true expert in martial arts!"

"Prepare to die!"

Uncle Dao wore a black traditional jacket, hands clasped behind his back, stepping forward with an air of superiority. "Ye Tian, the Ye family’s been gone for five years, yet you still act like the eldest son?"

"The Zhang family today is nothing like before. You can’t afford to mess with us!"

"Dare—"

"Enough noise!" Ye Tian interrupted, and suddenly struck with his palm.

Bang!

A mist of blood exploded.

Uncle Dao’s head burst like a watermelon, dying instantly and irrevocably!

He never had a chance to react from start to finish.

Zhang Shihao’s smug smile froze, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

How could this be?

Uncle Dao was an Earth-ranked martial artist!

Yet Ye Tian obliterated him with a single blow?

All those present gasped in unison. "So he’s the Ye family’s eldest son who lost everything five years ago—and now he’s grown so powerful!"

"They say surviving calamity brings fortune!"

"Ye Tian’s return must be for vengeance. Zhang Shihao’s in trouble!"

"Not necessarily. The Zhang family has grown rapidly and has backing from other powerful clans. Ye Tian alone may not be able to stir up much turmoil..."

Amidst the murmurs, Zhou Manyun and Zhou Xiaoxiao also suddenly realized the truth.

No wonder the name Ye Tian had sounded so familiar—he was the former eldest son!

He’d rushed to the wedding for Li Muqing!

Zhou Manyun felt a strange sense of loss.

Zhou Xiaoxiao was tinged with a hint of jealousy.

"Zhang Shihao, whatever tricks you have left, use them all!" Ye Tian fixed his gaze on Zhang Shihao and spoke.

"You... are you a Heaven-ranked martial artist?" Zhang Shihao took a deep breath.

In martial arts, the ranks go from Earth-ranked, to Heaven-ranked; above that are Martial Masters, Great Martial Masters, Grandmasters, Supreme Grandmasters, Mount Tai, North Star, Martial Kings...

Uncle Dao, an Earth-ranked martial artist, had been killed by Ye Tian with a single blow, clearly proving Ye Tian’s extraordinary strength.

"So what if I am? So what if I’m not?" Ye Tian laughed coldly. "If you kneel and acknowledge me as your master, I’ll spare your life. If you wish to die, I’ll send you on your way!"

"You..." Zhang Shihao gritted his teeth, his expression uncertain.

Suddenly, he laughed.

A wild, twisted laughter.

"Ye Tian, I admit you surprised me after five years. But you’re still too naive!"

"You think being a Heaven-ranked martial artist means you can ignore everything?"

"In my eyes, you’re just a clown!"

"I told you—the Zhang family today is nothing like before. Martial arts experts, I have plenty! Come out!"

Swish, swish, swish, swish!

A dozen figures flickered into view.

Their presence was chilling.

They lined up, facing off against Ye Tian.

"Ye Tian, aren’t you a Heaven-ranked martial artist? All of mine are Heaven-ranked!" Zhang Shihao boasted. "And there’s a Martial Master as well!"

"I refuse to believe you can withstand this—ha ha ha ha..."

Exclamations rang out all around: "What? The Zhang family actually has a Martial Master!"

"No wonder they’ve risen to second-tier status—they’re truly formidable!"

"So many Heaven-ranked martial artists, plus a Martial Master—Ye Tian will have a hard time dealing with this..."