Chapter 2593

Ye Chen knew that this time, Hong Tianshi had come for the Rejuvenation Pill, and since he had already found Shi Tianqi, whether or not Hong Tianshi knew his identity, Ye Chen could not allow him to continue staying in Jin Ling.

Therefore, the best course of action now was to take the initiative.

Ye Chen had also considered one point: since Hong Tianshi was acquainted with his grandmother, had he perhaps met his parents before?

If so, given the resemblance between Ye Chen and his father, Hong Tianshi might guess his identity.

Ye Chen's plan was: if Hong Tianshi questioned his identity, he would not hesitate—he would simply detain him.

Immediately, he said to Shi Tianqi: "Divine Doctor Shi, you and Xiaozhao go home first. No need to worry about this. I'll come over promptly tomorrow morning."

Shi Tianqi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and agreed respectfully: "Very well, Grand Master Ye. I'll come again early tomorrow!"

Ye Chen gently beckoned Chen Xiaozhao to his side and whispered a few words in her ear.

Chen Xiaozhao immediately nodded without hesitation: "Very well, Grand Master Ye. Xiaozhao will surely take care of it!"

Ye Chen nodded and reassured her: "Don't worry, I will definitely help you resolve this matter. No matter what, I won't let the signboard of Jishitang be taken down!"

……

The next day.

Ye Chen arrived at Jishitang shortly after seven in the morning.

At this time, Jishitang had already hung up a notice saying it was closed for the day, yet its signboard still hung above the main gate, while the Tiantang signboard remained placed to one side.

Shi Tianqi had already changed into a long robe and was anxiously waiting here. Seeing Ye Chen enter, he hurried forward and said: "Grand Master Ye, you've arrived!"

Ye Chen nodded and asked him: "Divine Doctor Shi, has Xiaozhao come?"

Shi Tianqi hurriedly replied: "Reporting to Grand Master Ye, Xiaozhao just called me and said she'll be here soon."

"Good." Ye Chen gave a slight nod, then smiled and said: "Divine Doctor Shi, go rest in the back for a moment. I'll wait here for that Hong Tianshi to arrive."

Shi Tianqi hurriedly asked: "Grand Master Ye, should I stay here and keep you company?"

"No need." Ye Chen said lightly: "When I need Divine Doctor Shi to come out, I'll call you."

"Very well!" Shi Tianqi nodded, clasped his hands toward Ye Chen, and said respectfully: "Grand Master Ye, I'll wait in the back for your summons."

Having said that, Shi Tianqi turned and went to the resting room at the back of Jishitang.

Ye Chen stood up, moved the Tiantang signboard over, laid it directly in front of the chair, then sat back down, naturally placing his feet on the Tiantang signboard.

Soon, a tall, thin old man with a long beard strode angrily to the doorway.

This man was Hong Tianshi, who had flown all the way from America to Jin Ling in search of clues to the Rejuvenation Pill.

At this moment, seeing the Jishitang signboard still hanging above, Hong Tianshi's expression instantly darkened with displeasure. He clasped his hands behind his back and strode into Jishitang, then loudly demanded: "Where is Shi Tianqi?! We agreed last night that he would pack up and leave, taking down the Jishitang signboard—why hasn't it been taken down yet?!"

Sitting in the chair, Ye Chen glanced at Hong Tianshi. Though the man had no spiritual energy, he possessed a foundation of true qi, already reaching the level of an eight-star martial artist.

A Daoist with the strength of an eight-star martial artist—this genuinely made Ye Chen look at him with new respect.

At this moment, seeing that his shouting had gone unanswered, Hong Tianshi grew angry again and demanded: "Where is Shi Tianqi?! Dare you keep the Jishitang signboard up while you hide, afraid to show your face?!"

Ye Chen then deliberately coughed twice, stretched lazily, stood up, and said displeasedly: "What's all the shouting about so early in the morning? Did you get your head caught in a door? If your head really was caught in a door, you should go to the hospital and call 120 for emergency care—we can't treat that here!"

Seeing Ye Chen suddenly stand up, Hong Tianshi frowned and asked: "Who are you?"

Ye Chen, still worried that Hong Tianshi might have seen his father, deliberately asked: "What's the matter? Haven't you seen me before?"

Hong Tianshi stared at Ye Chen and questioned coldly: "Boy, I came here last time and didn't see you. Are you an apprentice here?"

Ye Chen shook his head and smiled: "There hasn't been a medical clinic that could afford to hire me as an apprentice."

Hong Tianshi's sword-like brows knitted together as he said in an unfriendly tone: "Boy, I don't want to waste words with you. Get Shi Tianqi out here—it's almost eight o'clock, and I want to hang up the Tiantang signboard!"

Having said that, he suddenly recalled something and shouted angrily: "Where is my Tiantang signboard?! Where did it go?!"

Ye Chen pointed to the signboard under his feet, already stripped of its gilding, and said with a smile: "You mean this one under my foot?"

Upon seeing his own Tiantang signboard trampled under Ye Chen's feet—covered in dust and shoe prints, even the gold paint worn away—Hong Tianshi instantly exploded with rage, pointing at Ye Chen and shouting: "Boy, you have enormous guts! Dare you trample my signboard underfoot? I see you're tired of living!"

Having said that, he raised his fist, preparing to strike.

Ye Chen curled his lip and sneered: "Yo, you old man, quite the big shot, barging in here first thing in the morning just to hit someone? Believe it or not, if you throw that punch, I'll make you lose even your undershirt!"

Hong Tianshi sneered contemptuously: "Ignorant child, dare to spout nonsense before me? If it weren't for the Three Pure Ones watching above, I would take your dog's life!"

Ye Chen likewise sneered: "Hey, since you believe in the Three Pure Ones, you must be a Daoist. As a Daoist, why aren't you properly cultivating martial arts and Dao in the temple, instead of running here to show off? And you keep talking about taking lives—what's the difference between you and those thieving, whoring demon monks, or those molesters of boys posing as priests? Though I don't believe in your Three Pure Ones, I still feel ashamed for them! A thousand years of Daoist tradition—how did it produce someone like you? Truly shameful!"

"You!" Hong Tianshi, accustomed to arrogance, had for many years relied on his ability to concoct low-grade pills that boost true qi, becoming a renowned master in the Daoist sect. Countless Daoist practitioners bowed to him in worship, and many top Chinese tycoons had become his followers, offering him vast sums of incense money. One could say he was like the moon surrounded by stars.

Yet he never imagined that a boy who appeared to have no true qi at all—someone who hadn't even entered the martial path—would dare to speak so boldly before him and reduce him to nothing!

Unable to contain his anger, he gritted his teeth and said: "Boy, this is your own doing—don't blame me for being impolite!"

Having said that, he swung his heavy fist toward Ye Chen.

But Ye Chen felt no fear, nor did he dodge. Instead, he wore a provocative expression, looked at him, and said lightly: "Go ahead and punch. After you finish, I'll let you know what it means when a true dragon cannot overwhelm a local snake. Believe it or not, one phone call from me, and you'll become a wanted man throughout Jin Ling, black and white paths alike!"

As soon as Ye Chen said this, Hong Tianshi's expression instantly turned to shock.

Immediately, he instinctively stopped the fist he had already swung out.

It wasn't that he feared Ye Chen, but from Ye Chen's words he realized: "This kid is definitely a local tyrant in Jin Ling. Though I'm not afraid of him, I'm a newcomer here with no connections. If I hit him today, the police might come after me everywhere, and I might not be able to stay in Jin Ling—then my real purpose for coming here would be ruined!"

Thinking this, he gritted his teeth and silently said: "Forget it! To avoid small resentment ruining a great plan, today I'll spare this boy's dog's life!"

With that thought, Hong Tianshi withdrew his fist, stared at Ye Chen, eyes nearly bursting, and said: "Boy! Today you got lucky—I, Hong Tianshi, don't want to start a massacre here. Otherwise, based on your disrespectful words just now, I would have already sent you to meet the Three Pure Ones!"

Ye Chen spat and continued mocking: "Pah! You old fool, your mouth is still hard—not that I look down on you, but lucky for you you didn't strike! Otherwise, I'd have punched your shit out right then! And don't you dare cover your crotch and say I don't respect the elderly or love the young!"

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