Martial Arts Master in the City

Chapter 2

Although Ye Xiao wasn't exactly hard on the eyes, his clothes, at first glance, resembled those of a manual laborer; it's no wonder the security guards at Hengyu Building stopped him!

"Sir, may I help you with something?" a security guard of similar age to Ye Xiao stood in front of him and asked.

Ye Xiao thought for a moment and then said, "I'm looking for Ling Hengyu."

"Ling Hengyu?" The man immediately appeared slightly stunned, feeling that the name was very familiar, yet at the moment he couldn't recall where he had heard it before!

At this time, an older security guard next to them immediately straightened up and sized Ye Xiao up and down, asking, "You're looking for Chairman Ling?"

"Oh, he's a chairman, huh? Yes, I'm looking for him," Ye Xiao said very casually.

It was then that the younger security guard finally realized he had forgotten the chairman's name. As a security guard, not knowing who one was supposed to protect was a failure in duty. However, he quickly came to his senses. Seeing Ye Xiao's attire, which was like that of the manual workers he'd seen on TV, the guard wondered if perhaps this man was here to collect debts? Immediately, the young security guard became alert and stopped Ye Xiao again!

"Are you really looking for Chairman Ling?" the young security guard said. "You're not here to cause trouble, are you? Let me tell you, Hengyu Group is no pushover."

"I prefer meat to vegetables!" Ye Xiao couldn't be bothered with further nonsense from the guard and headed straight toward the interior of Hengyu Building!

Upon hearing Ye Xiao's words, the young security guard was taken aback, thinking this guy was still intent on causing trouble, and as a guard, he absolutely couldn't let him run amok!

"Kid, leave now, or else you'll have to come with me to the security office for some tea!" the young security guard barred Ye Xiao's path, waving his electric baton, clearly ready for an attack!

At this moment, the older security guard quickly stopped his colleague, whispering, "Little Li, could this kid be a dark horse in disguise?"

Little Li, the guard, immediately scoffed, "Zhang, have you been reading too many novels? Today, I want to see how he could possibly take on this tiger!"

Just then, Ye Xiao walked straight towards the reception desk of Hengyu Group on the first floor. Upon seeing this, Little Li, the guard, was instantly enraged as he felt his dignity being trampled on!

Little Li, the guard, lunged forward like an arrow, his youth lending to impulsive decisions, and his hot-headedness led him to strike at Ye Xiao with the electric baton!

Ye Xiao couldn't help but give a wry smile. The city wasn't as peaceful as Qiu Mountain; why was violence the immediate response?

With a swift dodge, Ye Xiao easily evaded Little Li's attack, and in the blink of an eye, the electric baton in Little Li's hand was now in Ye Xiao's grasp!

Little Li was taken aback; he hadn't even seen how his baton was snatched away. But then, to his horror, he saw the baton in Ye Xiao's hand coming down fast towards his head. Little Li, and everyone present, were petrified; some were even preparing to call the police.

However, just as the baton was less than 3 centimeters from Little Li's head, its descent stopped abruptly, as though time had frozen, and Little Li was so frightened that he fell on his butt!

Ye Xiao looked at Little Li, scared out of his wits, and with a slight smile, tossed the electric baton onto the ground beside him. At that moment, Zhang, the guard, immediately looked at Ye Xiao with caution and said, "Don't cause any trouble... I'm going to call the police!"

Ye Xiao paid him no attention. After all, he hadn't actually hit anyone.

Just then, a loud laugh rang out.

"Haha, call the police? Why?" A slightly portly middle-aged man approached.

As the man arrived, almost everybody turned to look at him and there was a collective gasp, even prompting some to swiftly leave the area!

"Secretary Weei!" Zhang, the guard, was startled!

Weei Jie walked up to Ye Xiao, smiled, and said, "You must be Ye Xiao!"

Ye Xiao did not recognize the man before him, and he certainly didn't know how the man knew him. But it seemed as though this person carried some weight around here. "I am Ye Xiao. How do you know me?" he asked.

Weei Jie said, "It's Mr. Ling who asked me to come down and welcome you. I didn't expect to meet Mr. Ye right away!"

Ye Xiao asked, "Mr. Ling? You mean Ling Hengyu?"

Weei Jie quickly said, "Mr. Ye, you mustn't call Mr. Ling's name so casually!"

"Why not? Aren't names meant to be used? Never mind, just take me to your Mr. Ling. I have urgent business with him!"

Weei Jie still had a smile on his face, but inside he was slightly puzzled; Mr. Ling was meticulous, why would he pay such attention to a somewhat reckless young man?

Weei Jie said, "Alright, Mr. Ye, please come with me!"

"Don't call me Mr. Ye anymore, just call me Ye Xiao," Ye Xiao said with a smile!

Weei Jie laughed and did not speak again. He then took Ye Xiao on the elevator. Soon, the two arrived at the top floor of Hengyu Building, where Ling Hengyu's office was located!

It didn't take long for Weei Jie to bring Ye Xiao to a mahogany door. After knocking, a not-so-loud but deep voice came from inside, "Come in!"

Weei Jie pushed the door open and entered with Ye Xiao!

"Mr. Ling, Mr. Ye is here!" Weei Jie said respectfully, looking at the man known as Mr. Ling, who was also the helmsman of Hengyu Group, Ling Hengyu!

Ling Hengyu was a well-proportioned, bespectacled, fair-faced middle-aged man. Ye Xiao wasn't good at judging people, but he could tell that Ling Hengyu must have been a handsome man once, at least as handsome as himself!

Currently working, Ling Hengyu slowly lifted his head, wearing a smile. However, Ye Xiao saw the authoritative air of a superior between his brows—an aura no ordinary person could feign. It seemed Ling Hengyu was no ordinary man!

Ling Hengyu looked at Ye Xiao and said with a smile, "So, you're Ye Xiao, all grown up now!"

Ye Xiao was slightly stunned by Ling Hengyu's words. Was he familiar with this man named Ling Hengyu? He was sure this was their first meeting!

"You're Ling Hengyu, right? You should be very clear about why I'm looking for you. I want to know who my parents really are, but the old man at home just won't tell me. He said if I want to know the answer, I should come here and find you. Now, tell me!" Ye Xiao said to Ling Hengyu, cutting to the chase!

In fact, Ye Xiao was quite annoyed by this point. He'd grown up in Qiu Mountain, an utterly desolate place. He could've just stayed there, but the old man told him from a young age if he wanted to know about his parents, he had to grow up and reach 18 or 19, meet the conditions to leave the mountain. As a kid full of curiosity, Ye Xiao committed himself to studying Qiu Mountain's martial arts. Then, after some fortuitous encounters, he obtained some rare Cultivation Techniques. This year, now aged 19, he could finally leave the mountain without the need to return. He was prepared to learn about his parents, but the evil old man wouldn't say who they were, insisting if he wanted to know, he must go to Minghai City to find Ling Hengyu!

After learning this, Ye Xiao was furious, wanting to beat up the old man. However, he was quickly overpowered and lost orientation. He realized then he must not contend with that damned old man, not with heaven nor earth!

For over a decade, Ye Xiao had always wanted to know his parents' whereabouts. So now, having found the man who might know the answer, Ye Xiao naturally wanted to get it as soon as possible!

But...

Looking at Ye Xiao with a slight smile, Ling Hengyu said, "Young man, don't be impulsive. You have to understand that I'm a businessman; I don't make deals that lose money. I have some news about your parents, but I can't just tell you for nothing!"

Ye Xiao responded, "You just say it. Whatever you want me to do, as long as it doesn't violate the moral code of chivalry, I can accept it!"

Of course, that was nonsense since Ye Xiao had done quite a few things against the code of chivalry. But now, he felt he should appear more righteous!

Ling Hengyu, amused by Ye Xiao's words, suddenly revealed a sly glint in his eyes!

Seeing this, Ye Xiao couldn't help but secretly think, damn, it seemed he'd fallen into this old kid's trap!

But, having spoken his mind, it was too late to take it back. So, Ye Xiao could only brace himself for Ling Hengyu's conditions!

Sure enough, Ling Hengyu spoke up!

"The thing I want you to do is actually very simple," Ling Hengyu continued, "but I hope you can do it perfectly, that's all. I will also give you additional compensation!"

"Just tell me straight," Ye Xiao said.

Ling Hengyu revealed, "I have an only daughter, eighteen this year, studying at Minghai Academy. As you know, once someone gets rich, many others become envious. So, for me to focus on my business with peace of mind, I want you to be her personal bodyguard until she graduates!"

Ye Xiao immediately chuckled and said, "I thought it was something difficult. It turns out it's just being a bodyguard. No problem, rest assured. You tell me your daughter's name and what she looks like, and you won't need to worry about the rest!"

"I don't want my daughter to feel pressured at school, so I hope you can pose as a student. All the tedious enrollment procedures have already been handled!" said Ling Hengyu!

"Wait a minute, Mr. Ling, are you saying that I also have to go to school?" Ye Xiao asked with confusion!

"That's right," Ling Hengyu confirmed, "As a student, you must protect my daughter. That's the bottom line—I want my daughter to be safe!"

"No way!" Ye Xiao said definitively, "I can't go to school, I won't go to school. You can see what kind of person I am; school is absolutely not for me!"

Ling Hengyu replied, "That's fine if you don't go. But, if you want to know the things you're seeking, I won't tell you."

"You're threatening me!" Ye Xiao's complexion instantly fell!

Ling Hengyu showed no emotional fluctuation due to Ye Xiao's facial expression, stating plainly, "You may think so. If it's really difficult for you, then you can leave now. I won't force you."

At that moment, Ye Xiao was torn. He really wanted to slap Ling Hengyu down, but he could tell that Ling Hengyu was clearly not someone easily intimidated by force!

So, reluctantly and in order to clarify his origins, Ye Xiao earnestly said, "Fine, but my salary must not be too low!"

"No problem, fifty thousand a month!"