Chapter 422: Making Friends

"Princess?" the guard Leader, upon seeing, immediately asked for the princess's opinion.

It seemed these people also knew Xiong Batian, and dared not openly oppose him.

The Ninth Princess also seemed to know that this Xiong Batian was not to be provoked, so she immediately changed her tone: "All right! Since Brother Bear is pleading, I'll let him off this once! Let's go!"

As she spoke, her maid beside her let go of the curtain, and the carriage turned around, heading back to the Royal Palace.

"Hmph! He only glanced at me once! Am I not beautiful?" The Ninth Princess pouted, very displeased that Ye Liuyun didn't even look at her properly.

"Old Wu, help me investigate the background of that person just now." On the way, the Ninth Princess instructed Wu Lao who was following her.

"Yes!" the old man replied, and his figure vanished beside the carriage.

Seeing the carriage leave, Ye Liuyun said to Xiong Batian, "Put away your axe, don't leave internal injuries." The palm strike from Qiao Wenxian had actually left him severely injured; he was merely holding on.

If not for Ye Liuyun's Healing Pill, he wouldn't be able to stand right now. He immediately sat down, continuing to heal while thanking Ye Liuyun: "Thanks a lot! Otherwise, if that brat had kicked me, I would have lost half my life!"

"First heal your wounds, don't speak." Ye Liuyun didn't say more, but urged him to seize the time to heal.

The onlookers, seeing the excitement was over, all scattered.

Wu Qingcheng and the others only then walked up to Ye Liuyun's side.

"You've caused trouble again!" Wu Qingcheng said with a hint of complaint. She guessed that Ye Liuyun had offended the princess this time; seeing the princess's spoiled demeanor, she was sure she wouldn't let it go.

"It's fine, anyway we're leaving in a few days." Ye Liuyun could only console himself like that. Faced with this situation, he really couldn't help it.

Wu Qingcheng also knew his temperament, so she didn't say more.

"Little brother, I'm so hungry!" Lei Ming complained.

Ye Liuyun rubbed Lei Ming's head, comforting him: "Wait a moment, after he finishes healing, we'll go eat something good!"

They waited about a quarter of an hour, and Xiong Batian was already able to stand up. Needless to say, his physique was still quite good, very resistant to blows.

"The effect of your Healing Pill is really not bad!" Xiong Batian, upon standing, first praised the medicine's effect, then introduced himself: "I'm Xiong Batian. Thanks just now for your help; otherwise I would have suffered a great loss! May I know how to address you, friend?"

"I'm Ye Liuyun. It's just a small effort, not worth mentioning. Since your injury is healed, let's part ways here!"

Ye Liuyun saw he could act on his own, so he wanted to lead the crowd away.

"How can that not do? I must thank you somehow. Come on, I'll treat you to a meal." Although he had just been healing his wounds, he heard everything Ye Liuyun and the others said.

He didn't stand on ceremony with Ye Liuyun, directly grabbing him and rushing to the nearby restaurant.

Ye Liuyun, seeing his warm invitation hard to refuse, agreed and brought everyone along to eat with him.

During the meal, Xiong Batian spoke very straightforwardly, and the two got along exceptionally well.

From his conversation, Ye Liuyun learned that Xiong Batian's father was the chief of the Royal City Imperial Guard, wielding considerable power in the city—no wonder even the princess was wary of him by three tenths.

"Haha, you kid really suit my temperament. If I weren't injured, I'd definitely want to fight you. Let's become friends; judging by age, you should call me big brother."

This Xiong Batian truly didn't treat Ye Liuyun as an outsider.

"All right then, Big Brother Bear!" Ye Liuyun, without pretension, immediately agreed.

"You're leaving in a few days?" Xiong Batian also learned that after the auction, Ye Liuyun and company would depart, and he couldn't help feeling a bit regretful. "By then my injuries won't have healed either! Still can't fight you!"

"Uh... turns out this guy regrets not being able to fight me!" Ye Liuyun was also speechless.

"Maybe we'll have a chance to meet again later!" Finally he could only say that.

"That's all we can do!" Xiong Batian still felt a bit regretful. He then asked: "Where are you staying now?"

"We're staying at an inn, having rented a side courtyard." Ye Liuyun said.

"Don't stay there; come live at my place so we can chat more." Xiong Batian urged him directly, then started to rise, pulling Ye Liuyun to leave.

Ye Liuyun originally didn't want to go, fearing future conflict with the queen that would affect the Bear family. He made all kinds of excuses, but Xiong Batian was so enthusiastic he wouldn't listen to any explanation, insisting Ye Liuyun go.

Helpless, Ye Liuyun finally had to agree. To avoid trouble, he also stored the others in his Storage Ring, leaving only Lei Ming, who transformed into beast form, crouching on Ye Liuyun's shoulder, following Xiong Batian to the Bear residence.

The Bear family members, upon seeing Xiong Batian, warmly greeted him. Moreover, as soon as they entered, Ye Liuyun saw a huge training ground, with many people practicing inside.

"Your family's atmosphere is really not bad! So many people practicing martial arts." Ye Liuyun praised.

"Yeah! My old man loves this! Come on, I'll take you to meet my father!" Saying that, he led Ye Liuyun toward a small hill behind.

On the way, they encountered several girls; upon seeing Xiong Batian, they all immediately panicked and ran away.

"What heinous deeds have you done? Why do these girls flee at the sight of you?" Ye Liuyun asked, bewildered.

"Hahaha! This shows I have charm. Chun'er, don't run, come over and give big brother two kisses!" While talking to Ye Liuyun, he shouted at a maid-like beauty who was hiding from him.

As it turned out, if he hadn't shouted, it would have been fine; but after he shouted, that maid ran even faster!

Ye Liuyun also had a black line across his face. It seems this newly recognized big brother is not exactly proper!

On the Mid-Mountain Ridge, there was a bamboo grove with a thatched hut. Xiong Batian brought Ye Liuyun here, and immediately it grew quiet; they silently pushed open the wooden door and tiptoed inside.

"You little brat, are you causing trouble again!" A thunderous roar came from the thatched hut. A towering middle-aged man burst out, grabbing Xiong Batian's collar and lifting him up.

"Old Bear, my brother's still here; can't you give me some face?" Xiong Batian, unable to break free, shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Want face? Bring back that jar of my pure brew, and I'll give you face!" The man directly settled accounts with Xiong Batian. It seemed Xiong Batian had often stolen this man's liquor.

Even so, Xiong Batian didn't forget to introduce Ye Liuyun: "Brother, this is my father, Xiong Wuli! His temper is a bit violent—don't take offense!"

Ye Liuyun also felt a bit dazed. "So this is Xiong Batian's father; he doesn't seem like the Imperial Guard leader at all!"

Although he thought that in his heart, he still called out "Uncle Bear" and bowed respectfully.

Xiong Batian also introduced him to his father: "This is the brother I just recognized, named Ye Liuyun. Quickly put me down, don't let me lose face like this!"

Seeing Ye Liuyun's politeness, Xiong Wuli could only fling Xiong Batian aside, causing him to fall flat on his face.

He nodded at Ye Liuyun, then immediately lectured Xiong Batian: "Look at others, how polite they are. Look at you, always knowing how to screw over your old man!"

Then he pointed to the nearby tea table and chairs, telling Ye Liuyun: "Come sit, don't worry about this brat!" He himself also walked over in a relaxed manner and sat down directly.