Ye Jun had already thought about what he was going to do before the Elders. The whole stuff about Ye Cheng's murder wasn't even on his list. For him, his story ended with his death.
Looking at everyone's stupefied expressions, he couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh. It was so ironic to see his own family members being so happy at the thought of his death.
Ye Jun wasn't delusional enough to think he could survive after losing his position as Young Master. So he had essentially announced a death match.
Was it necessary? Not really.
It was actually a stupid move considering his enemies would be prepared. They'd know what was coming for them. And he usually liked to surprise his enemies.
This was so unlike him.
But he wanted this. It satisfied his rage.
He wanted to see Ye Chen know that he couldn't do anything even after knowing what was coming for him. He wanted to see despair on his face.
'I have become dumb.'
And he just wanted to vent a bit before them. It had been years, and he always had to submit to their desires. He hated that, perhaps because Ye Jun's soul had assimilated with his.
Ye Jun just wanted to take his stand against the people who always humiliated him, even if it took away the advantage he held over them.
He patted his chest lightly and thought, 'You can rest in peace. I'll make sure your desires are fulfilled, buddy.'
"Are you serious?" Ye Chen blurted, eyes full of excitement.
Long gone were the sadness and anger he felt over Ye Cheng's death. Now, he was just excited to snatch Ye Jun's status.
"Absolutely. I'm tired of this too," Ye Jun nodded. "But there are some conditions. Like I want privacy and ten times my monthly allowance. Everything that had been taken away from me."
"A simple matter," Ye Zhong said. "Someone will deliver the allowance you've missed. It's your right to get it."
Ye Jun rolled his eyes at him and said, "Good! Then the wager is on. If I lose, Ye Chen becomes the new Young Master. If I win, I claim his head. As for how the winner will be decided, we'll see to that in the Martial Exchange."
"Wait!" Ye Chen called out the moment Ye Jun was going to leave. "The Marriage Pact with the Song Clan is with the Young Master, so add it to the wager too. If I win, I get Song Liangxue too."
'Wow! You're still hung up on her and even dare to say that,' Ye Jun was surprised, and he could see the Elders having the same reaction.
This was equivalent to slandering the Song Clan, and that was an offense the Ye Clan couldn't afford. Still, no one said anything on the spot.
Ye Jun smiled coldly and went toward Ye Chen. Standing face to face, he stared down at him and said in a low voice,
"Learn some respect, little brother. Liangxue isn't a thing I can put on a wager. She has her own will. If you really want her, then be a man and win her heart. Of course, your pathetic ass can't do anything."
Ye Chen's hands tightened on his sword's hilt as he growled, "Don't make me kill you before the duel."
"If your cowardly ass could do that, I would be dead ten times already," Ye Jun smirked as he patted Ye Chen's shoulder. "Also, touch me and I won't even participate in the Martial Exchange, meaning I wouldn't lose."
"You wouldn't..." Ye Chen's eyes widened.
"I've got no reputation, little brother, and I have nothing to lose," Ye Jun whispered. "There's nothing I wouldn't dare to do to screw you over."
Ye Chen gritted his teeth, but then he took a deep breath and chuckled. "Fair enough. You can enjoy this one month of mercy. It's the last month you'll live anyway. You can't win against me, loser."
"Me? A loser?" Ye Jun chuckled. "That still makes me qualified as Father's son."
Ye Chen blinked in confusion.
"You won't get it," Ye Jun patted Ye Chen's cheek, making him angrier. Then, he leaned forward and whispered, "Keep your subordinates in check and safe."
With that, Ye Jun withdrew while flashing a smile at Ye Chen, who simply glared at him with hatred. His eyes told him how much he loathed him.
'Feelings mutual, little brother,' Ye Jun smiled. 'I am going to enjoy ripping apart your face.'
Then, he bowed toward Ye Zhong and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave, Father."
Ye Zhong just hummed and waved his hand in dismissal. There was nothing he could do against Ye Jun at the moment, not to mention he would achieve his goal in a month anyway.
Nodding at the Elders and the guards, Ye Jun walked out of the hall and headed directly toward his hut. He knew someone must be following him, even if he couldn't sense it.
'My dear father isn't a complete idiot,' Ye Jun thought. 'No way he isn't sending someone after me to find out where my confidence comes from.'
Still, he didn't care about all that and simply exited the luxurious Ye Manor and entered his hut. Then, without any hesitation, he swung open the gate, found the yard empty, and entered the house.
The moment he closed the door, a figure walked out from the shadowy corner. Meihui glanced to her right and said, "Two people followed you here at first, then one left. The other is still there."
"He'll be gone in a while," Ye Jun sat down on the bed and said. "But this definitely means I'm under surveillance."
"Shouldn't they be overconfident?" Meihui asked. "I've observed your clansmen, and they're really arrogant and ignorant. They'll be sure of their victory and would think you're just bluffing and trying to find a way out or something."
"Others might fall for it, but not my dear father," Ye Jun sighed. "That man has always been wary of me, even though I'm basically useless. I don't know what Liangxue replied to them, but it obviously isn't good. That might raise questions in my father's mind."
He paused for a moment, then continued,
"Chen was pissed, so it means her reply favors me. Perhaps Father can guess that Liangxue gave me the Meridian Reforging Pill, even if it sounds impossible."
Meihui tilted her head in confusion.
"Ah! You don't know about that."