Chapter 90: The Scheming Ye Qiu

A mere tavern errand boy, and his strength is greater than ours. What an intolerable humiliation.

For a moment, everyone found it hard to accept it, feeling as though the last several thousand years of cultivation had been wasted.

They had never seen such outrageous treatment before. Which one among those who had reached this point had not weathered endless hardship, crawling through the edge of death to get here?

And now, someone was telling them that a man who merely ran errands and did chores in a tavern had surpassed them?

Damn it. This was a disgrace. A colossal disgrace.

Cultivation? Cultivating my ass.

"This is too much. That kid looks anything but clever, so why is he stronger than I am?"

Someone grumbled in indignation, yet did not dare direct his anger at Cao He. They all knew that this seemingly unassuming fellow was, in truth, a genuine powerhouse of the highest realm.

Cao He, stared at by everyone, began to feel uneasy. He was at a loss, thinking he had somehow done something wrong.

"How strange. Why are they all looking at me like that? Did I mess up again?"

Cao He was completely baffled. He had only tossed those books and herbs onto the ground; surely that was not such a big deal?

"Boss, what is wrong with them? Why are they staring at me like that?"

The more Cao He thought about it, the less sense it made. He stepped behind Ye Qiu and asked in a low voice.

Ye Qiu glanced back at him and said calmly, "Nothing. Maybe they think you’re rather handsome."

Cao He immediately denied it. "Impossible. That look is clearly the way people look at an idiot. How could they possibly think I’m handsome?

Boss, don’t assume that because I never went to school I don’t understand. That look is unmistakably the look you give a fool."

"Huh?"

Ye Qiu froze, then said with surprise, "Oh! This kid got smarter? Not bad. Looks like my influence has finally awakened him."

With shameless composure, Ye Qiu then replied to Cao He, "Relax. Why care so much about other people’s looks? You only need to know what you are yourself. Don’t bother about what you appear to be in other people’s eyes."

Cao He: "???"

Why does that sound like an insult to me?

Cao He was dumbfounded. At first it had seemed harmless enough, but the more he thought about it, the more twisted it sounded.

"What am I? I’m not a thing. No, wait—I’m a person..."

Cao He was instantly miserable and protested, "Boss, why does that sound so harsh when you say it?"

"Does it?"

Ye Qiu grinned. "Heh, with your intelligence, it’s hard for me to explain it clearly.

Actually, there’s no need for you to care too much about other people’s gazes, because... your image is decided by others. No matter how you change, you can’t change the image they already hold of you.

So all you need to do is be yourself. As for what others say, let them say it."

Hearing this, Cao He finally nodded, finding Ye Qiu’s words rather convincing.

Indeed, one’s image is decided by others. If others decide that you are a certain kind of person, then that is what you become in their eyes.

Good? Evil? Noble? Base?

It all depends on that first impression. If someone’s first impression of you is bad, then no matter how many good deeds you do afterward, it is hard to alter that fact.

"Yes, Boss, I understand!"

Cao He nodded, feeling much better at last. But the next thing Ye Qiu said nearly made him lose his breath and die on the spot.

Ye Qiu turned back and looked at him solemnly, saying with great seriousness, "That’s more like it. A person should have an optimistic mindset. Even if others do not understand you, do not forget to smile.

Besides, what is so bad about being a fool? Did a fool eat your rice? What right do you have to look down on fools? That’s going too far, hahaha..."

"Damn it, I’m fighting you for this!"

Cao He’s face flushed red with rage. You’re the fool. Your whole family is full of fools.

"Ahem, stop, stop!"

Seeing that Cao He was about to erupt, Ye Qiu immediately called for a halt. There were still many outsiders here, and it was not the place for such antics.

"All right, go and take care of your own work. Don’t worry about what they think. Right now, they see you as a fool. In a little while, you’ll be the one seeing them as fools."

Ye Qiu said with a broad smile. He was quite confident about this.

Cao He was somewhat puzzled. "Why?"

Ye Qiu shot him an impatient look and snapped back, "That’s why I said it’s hard to explain to you, given your intelligence. Just do as I say."

Cao He fell silent at once. He had understood now: not only had he been led around by Ye Qiu, but these people were about to be led around as well.

Good heavens. If I hadn’t followed him for twenty years, I would never have known he could be this devious.

In truth, Ye Qiu’s thinking was simple. Hadn’t he already made it very clear? He was going to sell things.

These goods were all hot commodities. Ye Qiu had to work them carefully. Once Cao He took charge of the overall situation, then... who would still dare look at him as if he were a fool?

Come on now. Unless you knelt down and begged him, he probably would not even sell to you. Where would you go to reason with that?

So Ye Qiu’s move was ruthless enough. You think my underling is ugly and foolish? Just wait. In a little while, you’ll be the ones begging him.

It had to be said, Ye Qiu was very protective of his own. By his logic: my underlings are the only ones I’m allowed to bully. Anyone else? Not a chance.

Watching the tavern gradually grow quiet, Ye Qiu raised a hand and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, if there is nothing else, please leave. When the merchant guild and auction house have been built, come back then to buy your goods. Forgive me for not seeing you out."

He waved off his guests without ceremony. He had already explained everything that needed explaining. From here on, aside from the merchant guild and the auction house, he would not involve himself in anything else.

If the internal strife in the Great Wilderness had not yet been settled and foreign threats were already emerging, then all they could do was unite in common enmity and face the enemy together.

Perhaps they were all very clear about this cruel reality already, which was why Ye Qiu did not need to say much more.

Besides, this tavern might not be large, but it certainly could not hold so many people. So Ye Qiu could only start driving them out.

He still had plenty to do. For instance... the fruit trees he had planned earlier had yet to be planted, and the peaches of immortality were also still unplanted. These things had to be completed as quickly as possible, or their supplies would not keep up with consumption.

"Farewell, Senior. We shall come visit another day."

The Daoist withered wood bowed respectfully, then turned and left first. Today’s trip had already brought him great gains.

Although everyone was coveting the treasures in Ye Qiu’s hands, not one of them dared entertain any crooked thoughts. The moment they did, they would surely die.

The suppressive pressure Ye Qiu gave them was simply too terrifying. His bottomless cultivation only made them increasingly anxious.

After the Daoist Withered Wood left, the others departed one after another. Before long, the entire tavern was left with only Yue Chan, sitting alone by the window and gazing at the scenery outside, with no intention of leaving in the slightest.

"You... aren’t leaving?"

Ye Qiu asked in confusion.

Yue Chan turned back with a smile and said meaningfully, "I’ve suddenly decided the view here is wonderful, very interesting indeed. I don’t want to leave anymore. Aren’t you the one who runs this tavern? Then I’ll be a customer today."

Leave?

Yue Chan had never intended to leave at all. If she did not thoroughly torment Ye Qiu for a while, she would never let this matter rest...

For the rest of her life, she had set her sights on this fellow.