Chapter 24: The Hall of Enforcement

“You’re the main person in charge now. Handle it as you see fit.” Ye Qinghai did not refuse Ye Shihan’s request. He knew just how crucial this project was. Although the initiative was no longer in the hands of the Ye Group, as long as they could participate, the benefits would still be considerable.

“Alright, Grandpa. I have nothing else to discuss. I’ll head back now—please take care.” With matters settled, Ye Shihan saw no reason to linger. The project was about to launch, and many tasks awaited her attention.

As Ye Shihan turned to leave, Xiao Yu, who had been following behind, suddenly halted his steps. He glanced at Ye Qinghai, who seemed to have aged several years in an instant, and said softly, “You’ll be proud of the choice you made today.”

Though Xiao Yu’s words were quiet, Ye Qinghai heard every syllable. Slowly, Ye Qinghai lifted his head and looked at Xiao Yu, his lips parting as he asked, “Was it really you who resolved the loan issue?”

Even now, Ye Qinghai found it hard to believe. He needed to hear the answer directly from Xiao Yu.

Hearing this, Xiao Yu gave a soft laugh and nodded. “Not only did I handle the loan, but the owner of Huayi Group also agreed to this project with your family for my sake. Otherwise, why do you think Huayi would choose to work with a second-tier family?”

Having said this, Xiao Yu paid no further attention to the stupefied Ye Qinghai and quickly caught up to Ye Shihan, leaving the ancestral hall behind.

After departing, Ye Shihan went straight to the Ye Group. In truth, she had already selected some outstanding candidates for the project. She was there to make her final choices.

When Ye Xin in the company learned that Ye Shihan had successfully secured the loan, he was shocked, and soon after, a wave of anger overtook him—especially when he discovered that Ye Shihan had excluded him from the candidate list. This humiliation stoked his fury.

Yet Ye Shihan didn’t spare him so much as a glance and promptly left the company. This left Ye Xin feeling as though he’d punched into thin air—powerless and frustrated.

After discussing with Lin Xue’er, Ye Shihan set the project launch for three days later. To celebrate the promising partnership between both sides, she lavishly arranged a banquet at the largest hotel in Phoenix City.

Once word spread, many came to offer congratulations. But these well wishes were, in reality, an attempt to forge ties and secure a chance to cooperate with Hanyu Real Estate. Even acting as a contractor would yield substantial profits.

The atmosphere at the venue was lively. The grand hall, which could accommodate over a hundred guests, was already packed to the brim. Even the heads of the city’s four great families were in attendance.

“Hahaha, congratulations, Miss Ye. In the end, this lucrative opportunity still fell into your hands. It’s truly impressive.” A middle-aged man stood before Ye Shihan, his tone tinged with a hint of regret. It was Zhou Binglong, the patriarch of the Zhou family, one of the city’s four great families.

“You’re too kind, Master Zhou. It was just good fortune on my part,” Ye Shihan replied with a smile, raising her glass to clink with Zhou Binglong’s.

After Zhou Binglong left, other family heads and business representatives approached, offering their blessings and compliments, all of which Ye Shihan acknowledged graciously. Her poised demeanor as a businesswoman drew a satisfied smile from Xiao Yu, who watched from the side.

“Brother, it seems we underestimated our sister-in-law. She handles even occasions like this with such ease,” Tai Sui remarked, swirling a glass of red wine as he glanced at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu nodded in agreement. He had never doubted Ye Shihan’s abilities. From the moment they met, he knew she was a woman of ambition and ideals.

Now, with Xiao Yu’s help, she had established a company and secured a highly sought-after project. With her acumen, it would not be long before her name was known throughout Phoenix City.

“Mr. Xiao.” A clear, melodious voice like an oriole’s song sounded. Xiao Yu turned to see Lin Xue’er approaching, holding a glass of champagne.

“Miss Lin, you’re now the second-in-command of Huayi Group. How is it that you’re not surrounded by admirers?” Xiao Yu joked.

“You’re too modest, Mr. Xiao. Surely these people should be flocking to Miss Ye instead. What surprises me most, though, is that you managed to settle the bank loan in such a short time,” Lin Xue’er replied with a knowing look.

She was well aware of the family pressure exerted on the bank, yet Xiao Yu had resolved the issue so effortlessly. This only deepened her curiosity about him.

“Mr. Xiao, a toast—to a successful partnership.” With that, Lin Xue’er raised her glass.

Xiao Yu chuckled and raised his in return. Under the watchful gaze of those with vested interests, the two glasses met.

In the distance, Ye Qinghai observed the cheerful exchange between Xiao Yu and Lin Xue’er. He recalled Xiao Yu’s words in the hall earlier. Now it seemed Xiao Yu must have a hidden identity—otherwise, someone as cold as Lin Xue’er would never spare him a second glance.

The onlookers’ expressions shifted upon seeing Xiao Yu and Lin Xue’er together. Their eyes were filled with surprise, but more so with disdain. After all, the image of Xiao Yu as a mere live-in son-in-law was deeply ingrained in their minds.

But soon, their attention drifted back to the main event. They were here to network, and though they found the previous scene puzzling, it did not concern them for long.

The hall buzzed with conversation, glasses clinking. What was supposed to be a business banquet between Hanyu Real Estate and Huayi Group had, in reality, become a networking event for the city’s elite.

Suddenly, the tightly closed doors of the hall were flung open with a heavy thud, drawing every eye in the room.

Several imposing figures stepped through the entrance, each wearing identical black robes and sporting military crew cuts. Had it not been for their hair, the guests might have mistaken them for actors who had wandered in from the wrong set.

While most in the room did not recognize these men, Xiao Yu and Tai Sui certainly did. As the newcomers entered, Tai Sui unobtrusively moved to Xiao Yu’s side, his gaze fixed on the group.

“Brother, why is the Enforcement Hall here?” Tai Sui asked, amusement lacing his voice.

“What else? Judging by the look of things, it must be about the Li family incident,” Xiao Yu replied calmly, his face betraying no emotion.

The Enforcement Hall was a mysterious organization founded by the cultivation world of Yanxia, standing alongside the Dragon Unit and the Twelve Celestial Warriors led by Xiao Yu, all considered the guardians of Yanxia. Yet, the Enforcement Hall was far more enigmatic than the other two. Every influential family or organization knew that the Dragon Unit was led by the Xuanyuan family, while the Celestial Warriors were led by the current War King. But as for the leader of the Enforcement Hall, no one knew their identity—not even Xiao Yu. Their existence was shrouded in secrecy.

The Enforcement Hall was not an official body but was said to have been formed at the behest of several legendary elders of the cultivation world, who rallied talents to their cause. In the martial world, rumors abounded that the first master of the Enforcement Hall had already achieved the stature of an immortal.

To ordinary people, these might sound like fantastical tales, but those within the martial world knew the truth. Whether martial artists or cultivators, once one’s skills reached a certain level, one could soar through the skies, move mountains, and perform feats beyond mortal comprehension.

The Enforcement Hall’s purpose was to deal with cultivators who recklessly slaughtered innocents in the mundane world. There were clear rules in the martial world: practitioners were not to interfere wantonly in worldly affairs.

The presence of these Enforcement Hall members was due to the incident at the abandoned warehouse on the western outskirts. With branches across all four regions of Yanxia, these particular enforcers hailed from the Southern Branch.

They walked in with haughty expressions, regarding this gathering of the region’s economic elite with open disdain. Only when they reached Xiao Yu did they come to a halt.

“You’re Xiao Yu?” the apparent leader asked, his tone arrogant and overbearing.

Seeing the man speak to Xiao Yu in such a manner, Tai Sui’s face turned grim, and he was on the verge of taking action.

Xiao Yu waved him off and replied coolly, “What do you want?”

“Oh? Such arrogance. It seems you’re likely the one responsible for that incident,” the leader sneered, observing Xiao Yu’s composed demeanor.

“What are you all posturing for? Hurry up and detain him!” the leader barked at his subordinates, who immediately moved toward Xiao Yu.

The commotion had drawn the attention of everyone present. When Ye Shihan saw that the group was targeting Xiao Yu, she rushed to his side.

“Who are you people? What gives you the right to just arrest someone?” she demanded, standing protectively in front of Xiao Yu, her brow furrowed in anger.

“Miss, I advise you not to interfere. The consequences are more than you can bear,” the leader warned, his eyes fixed on her.

“You want to arrest someone without reason, and now you threaten me? If you don’t back off, I’ll call the police!” Ye Shihan retorted, fuming.

Seeing Ye Shihan stand before him, Xiao Yu’s face softened with a blissful smile. Yet, he did not want her involved in this matter. Reaching out, he gently pulled her behind him.

“So the Enforcement Hall has grown this bold?” Xiao Yu remarked, his voice calm as he looked at the group.