Du Mingze had ransacked Ye Wei's dormitory with a gang of thugs. After destroying everything, they left, leaving Ye Wei room in a crumpled, bruised and humiliated form.
Several hours later, beneath the pale glow of starlight, Ye Wei approached the main gate of the Ye Family residence.
The Ye Family was not a major power in the entirety of Qingyue City, but here in the southwest district, they were still considered a prestigious household. The mansion sprawled across a hundred acres of open land. Its imposing red gates gleamed under moonlight, the polished brass rings shining brightly. A pair of stone lions, carved from solid bluestone, flanked the entrance—majestic and fierce. Four guards in crisp uniforms stood vigilant at the gate, eyes sharp, expressions stoic.
To most people, the Ye residence exuded power and dignity. But Ye Wei, who had just arrived at the gate, noticed something was off. His brows furrowed slightly as he studied the guards.
"Huh? Only four guards?" he murmured in confusion.
A household's strength was often measured by the number and skill of its gatekeepers. Normally, eight seven-star apprentices guarded this entrance. Why were there only four today?
"Master Ye Wei!"
"Master Ye Wei!"
The guards bowed respectfully. Ye Wei nodded back, still puzzled, and made his way into the estate, heading toward the small courtyard where his family resided.
As he neared the courtyard, faint voices drifted through the walls and caught his attention.
"Fubo, why is this month's allowance only fifty silver? My Xiaowei is still studying at Nanxing College. That's not enough! Wasn't it 150 silver normally? Why has it been cut so drastically?"
"Madam… to speak plainly, the Ye Family… we're no longer what we used to be. The patriarch even sold his Qingyi Unicorn, and many guards have already been dismissed…"
"What? It's gotten this bad?…"
Ye Wei froze in place, brows deeply furrowed. Even though he was barely acknowledged in the family due to his weak talent, he had never known the household to struggle financially. The monthly allowance always came on time. Everyone, from the servants to the elders, had treated him kindly. How had things declined so sharply—so suddenly?
Even the family's treasured Qingyi Unicorn had been sold?
Creak—
The wooden gate of the courtyard opened with a heavy groan.
"Mother, I'm back," Ye Wei called out softly, stepping inside.
"Xiaowei!"
The door to the main house opened, and a woman in her thirties rushed out with a warm smile. Though plainly dressed, her face was beautiful and soft, her demeanor gentle and graceful.
She was Ye Wei's mother, Qiao.
"Young master Ye Wei has returned," greeted Fubo, the house steward standing beside her. Though clearly tired, he forced a kind smile.
Despite Ye Wei's weak red-grade soul talent—making it virtually impossible for him to become a warrior—no one in the family mocked or bullied him. He was simply overlooked. The family's attention went to more promising younger generations. Still, life for Ye Wei had always been peaceful and secure—until now.
"Fubo!" Ye Wei nodded and smiled.
"I'll take my leave, Madam," Fubo said respectfully, placing a gray coin pouch down before walking away.
"Xiaowei, you're drenched in sweat. The college is so far away—why didn't you take a carriage? There's no need to save money like this. We're not that poor!" Qiao fussed over him, dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief and pouring him tea.
"Mother…" Ye Wei glanced at the pouch and felt a deepening sense of unease. He couldn't pretend not to notice anymore.
"You've been busy lately, haven't seen Father for days… even the gate guards have been cut in half. What's really going on with the family?" he asked, his tone solemn.
His intuition had been correct. Something was very wrong.
"You silly child. Don't worry about such things. Just focus on your cultivation at Nanxing College," Qiao replied, trying to smile, though her eyes flickered with hesitation.
"Mother, I've grown up. I'm a member of the Ye Family. What happens to our family concerns me too," Ye Wei said firmly.
Qiao sighed deeply, gently placing a hand on his head. "My son… you really have grown up."
She hesitated for a long moment, then finally spoke. "Have you heard of the Du Family?"
"Of course. One of the three great clans in Qingyue City. Hasn't our business been under pressure from them recently?"
She nodded.
"They've been targeting all our businesses—roadworks, restaurants, cloth trade, even the horse farm. But worst of all is the god scroll business. That makes up seventy percent of our family's income. Somehow, the Du Family brought in a direct disciple of a top-tier God Scroll Master. The scrolls he produces are far superior to ours—and they sell them at thirty percent less."
"Our scrolls are made by ordinary disciples. We can't compete. We're being forced to lower prices, losing money on every sale. The Du Family can afford this war of attrition. We can't."
"We've been struggling for two months. The family's reserves are nearly drained. That's why even your grandfather had to sell the Qingyi Unicorn…"
"Mother, this is serious," Ye Wei said, clenching his fists. "But… why would the Du Family do this? We're not important enough to threaten them."
Qiao's expression darkened.
"They want our ancestral land—Beishan Bay. Your grandfather refused to sell. That land contains the graves of our ancestors. But because he wouldn't give it up, the Du Family started this economic siege."
"They want to crush us until we're forced to sell."
Ye Wei's heart burned with anger.
Wanting to buy was one thing, but bullying and suppressing them like this? That was too much. Beishan Bay was sacred ground. No one in the Ye Family would ever agree to give it up.
"Don't worry about all this. There's good news too!" Qiao said, trying to brighten the mood. "Your little aunt Ye Jingjing has broken through to the seven-star warrior realm. We're having a celebration tonight."
Ye Wei's eyes lit up. "Little Aunt is incredible!"
Seven-star warriors were formidable. At that level, they could manifest aura-feathers—light-based energy that boosted both defense and speed, even allowing short bursts of aerial movement.
Ye Jingjing, just 25 years old, was the most talented member of the Ye Family—even more so than Ye Zhong, Ye Wei's famous cousin. Her breakthrough was a rare piece of good news.
Currently, the Ye Family had only two Congealed Force powerhouses: Ye Zhengqing, Ye Wei's grandfather and the family patriarch, and the eldest uncle, Ye Hai. Now with Ye Jingjing joining their ranks, they had a third.
Still, Ye Wei couldn't ignore the growing sense of responsibility weighing on him.
He was just a two-star apprentice. Weak in body—but gifted in divine soul awareness. He had already demonstrated his potential to Miss Lin Ziyan at Nanxing College. Once the vice-principal returned, he'd be taken under the school's wing.
But for now, the Ye Family was in crisis.
And he would do everything in his power to help them rise again.