These people all possessed the strength within the great Innate Realm.
Zhou Yu’s eyes narrowed, and a cold light flickered in his eyes.
He completely ignored these people and looked toward the direction of the gorge.
He saw another seven or eight people appear.
Among these seven or eight, there were not a few Saint Realm masters.
Among these people, there was a man in his thirties, protected by others as if he were the shining moon among stars.
They walked briskly towards Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu stared at the man in his thirties.
"A man from the Xu Family in the Capital City?"
The man gave a faint smile.
"Did you hang Ye Mengyun’s clothes here to lure me over?"
"Correct." The man continued to smile and nod.
"Where is Ye Mengyun now?"
The man kept smiling.
"She is fine. We are both prominent families, and nothing will happen to her in my care."
"I merely haven’t seen her in a long while, and invited her over to my place."
"Then why restrict her communication?"
"Do you think, I would believe that?"
The man shrugged his shoulders.
"How do you know it was I who restricted her communication?"
Zhou Yu furrowed his brow.
"What do you mean? It was your doing, don’t deny it."
"I said already, I just invited her over, but the Ye Family seems very anxious, especially her elder brother, Ye Mengmin who came to me yesterday and took his sister away."
"Therefore, your accusation of me restricting her communication is not true."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu’s expression darkened.
If she was taken away, why didn’t Ye Zhongshan inform me?
"Do you think I would believe that?"
"Believe it or not, that’s up to you."
"The matter regarding Ye Mengyun can now be temporarily closed. Now, let’s talk about you!"
Zhou Yu was taken aback.
He didn’t understand what the man meant.
The man said with a smile,
"First, let me introduce myself. I am from the Capital City’s Xu Family, Xu Pingchang."
"Knowing my name is enough for you."
"As for you, you are Zhou Yu, unknown origin, appeared in Yancheng about half a year ago, fulfilling marriage agreements with Lin Luoluo of the Lin Family in Yancheng, and gradually showing amazing talent in martial arts and medicine."
"Then, you developed your own forces in places like Yancheng, Qinzhou City, and Haizhou, and made connections with many important people."
"Of course, what shocked everyone the most was you breaking through the Body Refining Saint Realm at Southern Wutai Mountain using the Jinding Cultivation Technique, defeated one of the great generals of Tianyu and one of the ten cultists from the Zhu Family, and overcame Jin Yidao."
"The overall strength you have demonstrated is now comparable to the top talents of Hucheng."
"So far, your biggest backer should be Ye Zhongshan."
"Everything I mentioned should be correct, right?"
Xu Pingchang looked at Zhou Yu with a smile.
Zhou Yu’s expression turned grim, astonished that the Xu Family had investigated him so thoroughly.
"After saying all this, what is your purpose?"
Xu Pingchang snapped his fingers.
"Very good, I like straightforward people like you."
"My purpose is simple, I want you to submit to me, work for my Xu Family, and give up the Jinding Cultivation Technique."
"In exchange, my Xu Family will provide you with all the resources you need for your training, and based on your contributions to the Xu Family, you will be given enough status and power."
Zhou Yu’s eyes narrowed.
He finally understood.
This whole time, Xu Pingchang had meticulously lured him here with these intentions.
Zhou Yu laughed coldly,
"Sorry, I am the kind of person who dislikes relying on others. Put away your impractical thoughts."
Xu Pingchang’s smile grew wider, but that brilliant smile did not relax anyone, and instead instilled a cold murderous intent.
"Zhou Yu, my Xu Family respects talent the most, of course, and therefore we prefer not to see talent fall."
"It would be such a pity if that happened."
Zhou Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Are you threatening me?"
"You can take it that way. If a genius cannot serve my Xu Family, then there is no need for this genius to exist in this world."
"Therefore, I am giving you one last chance."
Xu Pingchang continued to smile as he looked at Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu’s eyes flickered with sharpness, and after a moment, he said,
"Looking at you, you seem too proud to lie."
"So, was Ye Mengyun really taken away by her elder brother Ye Mengmin?"
"Correct." Xu Pingchang nodded.
"Then why are her clothes here?" Zhou Yu continued to ask.
"Actually, you should be able to figure it out, I wouldn’t simply let Ye Mengyun go."
"Therefore, Ye Mengmin made a deal with me. They worked with me to lure you here in exchange for Ye Mengyun’s freedom."
"If you still don’t understand, let me put it more bluntly: you might think the Ye Family values you highly, but in reality, to Ye Mengmin, you are merely a sacrificial pawn."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu clenched his fists.
Well played, Ye Family.
He hadn’t expected to be played by the Ye Family.
However, it was better this way, at least he no longer owed Ye Mengyun any favors.
He looked up at Xu Pingchang.
"Well, thanks for explaining."
"Now about our matter, it’s not impossible for me to join your Xu Family."
"I have one condition."
Xu Pingchang laughed softly.
"I don’t feel secure, joining a new family where everything is unfamiliar. How about you adopt me as your godson? That way, having a godfather should help me adapt to the environment much faster."
At these words, the entire gorge seemed to fall into a deathly silence.
The smile on Xu Pingchang’s face gradually disappeared.
A chilling presence emanated from him.
Xu Pingchang looked at Zhou Yu coldly.
"It seems you have chosen a path to death."
"Since that’s the case, I will send you on your way."
Saying this, he stepped back three steps and waved his hand.
"Cripple him for me!"
"Be careful not to kill him, as I still want to extract the details of the Jinding Cultivation Technique from him."