Chapter 43 The Black Dragon Yields Its Heart

"What?!"

As Wang Fan's staff strike hit empty air, only to be firmly caught in the hand of the young man before him, he could not help but feel a slight shock of surprise.

However, seeing that Ye Feng was stepping in to shield Black Dragon, he naturally assumed they were cohorts and instantly felt a surge of contempt.

"Who do you think you are?"

"Does Elder Zhao even owe you the courtesy of giving you face!?"

Wang Fan was unaware that earlier that morning, Ye Feng had saved Elder Zhao’s life, bestowing a great favor upon the Zhao family. Upon returning home after being discharged from the hospital, Elder Zhao had kept the matter quiet. Hearing only that Black Dragon was in Yanjing and seeking to punish him for seizing his little granddaughter's jade Buddha, Elder Zhao had simply dispatched Wang Fan, a senior retainer of the estate, to teach Black Dragon a lesson.

"Black Dragon is my man now," Ye Feng said, gripping the staff without letting go. "If you want to beat a dog, you must first look at its master!"

"Then I'll beat you, the master, along with the dog!" With a flick of his wrist, Wang Fan shook off Ye Feng's hold.

The recoil of the staff forced Ye Feng back several steps, the web between his thumb and forefinger tingling slightly.

*As expected of an expert just beneath the realm of a God of War,* Ye Feng thought. *Truly formidable!*

Even so, Ye Feng stood firm in front of Black Dragon, refusing to yield an inch.

"Kid! Step aside!" Wang Fan slammed his staff heavily onto the ground once more.

A massive fissure split the stone floor, snaking its way straight toward Ye Feng's feet.

Seeing this, Ye Feng took a step forward, his own foot shattering the ground beneath him.

An invisible force surged outward to meet the incoming pressure.

In an instant, two unseen forces clashed beneath the flooring, the shockwave piercing directly through the reinforced foundation!

"Oh!?" Wang Fan could not help a secret start of surprise. "Not bad, kid, you've got some skill! No wonder you dared to act so brazenly in front of old man?"

Instantly, a competitive spirit was ignited within Wang Fan. "Then let me test your mettle!"

With that, Wang Fan thrust his staff forward once more, hurtling toward Ye Feng like a guided missile.

Seeing this, Ye Feng called out to Black Dragon behind him: "Watch closely! Soaring Dragon in the Sky requires not only supreme speed, but absolute mastery of power as well!"

Throwing a punch, Ye Feng met the incoming staff head-on.

"Soaring Dragon in the Sky!"

Ye Feng's fist struck out like a flood dragon breaching the ocean, accompanied by the resounding roars of dragons!

In a flash, fist and staff collided once more.

It sounded like a meteor striking the earth, letting out a thunderous crash.

Immediately after, *crack, crack, crack!*

A rapid chain of explosive fractures echoed through the air.

The staff in Wang Fan's hand shattered section by section.

Finally, a terrifying surge of energy, like a raging tsunami, engulfed him.

*Thud, thud, thud!*

Dropping the splintered remnants of his weapon, Wang Fan staggered back over a dozen meters before barely managing to regain his footing.

"You brat... you—!?"

Pausing, Wang Fan realized his entire arm had gone completely numb, and a look of sheer horror washed over his face.

"Who... exactly are you?!"

Had they not just clashed, Wang Fan would never have believed in his wildest dreams that he would one day be defeated by a mere youth.

Could it be... that he was truly growing old?

"My name is Ye Feng," Ye Feng said calmly. "You've already taught Black Dragon a lesson; there is no need to drive him to his grave. Go back and tell Elder Zhao that Black Dragon is under my protection now, and I will keep him on a tighter leash. Let this matter end here."

Though Black Dragon's actions were the result of his own foolishness, his crimes did not warrant death.

"Ye Feng..." Wang Fan repeated the name, etching it firmly into his mind. "Very well, I will remember you! For your sake, I will let this go today!"

"Farewell!"

Wang Fan cupped his fist with one hand, turned, and strode away.

Not until Wang Fan had completely departed did the silent, tense hall finally erupt into cheers.

"My god! Lord Dragon King is too incredible! Even the renowned Instructor Wang is no match for him!"

"Needless to say, Lord Dragon King is the true successor to the old Dragon King!"

"That arrogant old coot came in here acting all high and mighty, looking down on us all, but now he's learned what we're truly capable of!"

"Long live Lord Dragon King!"

The members of the Dragon Gate held an even deeper reverence and adoration for their new leader.

"Thank you, Lord Dragon King, for saving my life! Otherwise, I doubt I would have survived today!"

Black Dragon was filled with a mixture of profound gratitude and shame.

"Alas, what a pity! My arm is crippled."

Looking at his shattered limb, Black Dragon knew his martial prowess would henceforth be severely diminished.

At that moment, Ye Feng stepped forward and gently supported Black Dragon's broken arm.

He pointed a finger like a sword, channeling internal energy into his palm, and gave it a firm squeeze.

Black Dragon was bewildered, having no idea what Ye Feng intended to do with his ruined limb.

Was he perhaps suspecting that the injury was feigned?

Yet, at that very second, Black Dragon suddenly felt a wave of warmth coursing through his shattered arm.

Immediately following came a rapid series of cracking sounds as bones realigned.

The very bones that had been pulverized by the staff were miraculously knit back together, returning entirely to their original state.

"My... my hand!?"

Black Dragon flexed his restored arm, utterly unable to believe his eyes.

"It's healed! It's actually healed?!"

A look of ecstatic joy spread across Black Dragon's face as he stared at Ye Feng.

He never imagined that Ye Feng possessed such miraculous, life-restoring medical arts.

"Thank you, Lord Dragon King!" Black Dragon dropped to his knees once more, pressing his forehead hard against the floor. "From this day forward, Black Dragon vows to follow Lord Dragon King through fire and water, loyal unto death!"

***

Meanwhile, inside the study of the Zhao residence.

Elder Zhao was conversing with a middle-aged man.

"Elder Zhao, please forgive my bluntness!"

"Are you truly going to openly turn against the Ye family just for an abandoned outcast of theirs?"

"If this matter blows up, it will be difficult to clean up, and it benefits no one!"

"I implore Elder Zhao to think twice!"

The middle-aged man, named Yuan Zhimei, had once been a student of Elder Zhao. Deeply favored and repeatedly promoted by him, Yuan currently served as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Elder Zhao had summoned him precisely to assist with the favor he owed Ye Feng—investigating the Ye family's financial accounts to shake the very foundations of their clan.

However, this plan had met with fierce opposition from Yuan Zhimei.

"I owe Ye Feng a debt of gratitude as vast as the heavens," Elder Zhao said slowly. "He saved my life, so I must help him with this small favor."

"Heh..." Yuan Zhimei chuckled dismissively. "Elder Zhao, you are in fine health right now. What talk of saving a life is there? Do not let that young man deceive you!"

"He is merely an abandoned scion of the Ye family; Elder Zhao need not waste his concern on such a person."

Yuan Zhimei held absolute contempt for someone of Ye Feng's stature and was entirely unwilling to lend a hand.

After his student's earnest persuasion and detailed analysis of the risks, even Elder Zhao began to waver.

Right at that moment, Wang Fan returned.

"Instructor Wang!?" Seeing him, Yuan Zhimei hastily stood up to greet him.

One of Yuan Zhimei's sons practiced martial arts and had previously received guidance and favor from Instructor Wang, achieving remarkable success as a result.

"Instructor Wang, you're injured?" Yuan Zhimei's sharp eyes immediately caught the unnatural stiffness in Wang Fan's arm.

"What happened?" Elder Zhao quickly asked as well.

"I have already taught Black Dragon a lesson," Wang Fan said with a wry, bitter smile, "but in the end, I was defeated by a young man."

"What!?" Yuan Zhimei exclaimed in shock. "Who on earth could do that? Even you were no match for him, Instructor Wang?"

Elder Zhao was equally stunned and suspicious. He had not expected such a hidden dragon to be lurking beneath Black Dragon's command.

"His name is Ye Feng," Wang Fan said with genuine admiration. "Truly, heroes are born from youth!"

"What? Ye Feng!?" Yuan Zhimei's expression froze. "That outcast of the Ye family!? How is that possible?!"