C3 Eightarmed Yama King

"It's maddening how people can make you feel inferior. Take Wen Feng, for example, and then look at yourself. How can someone the same age be so accomplished? You don't even measure up to the stray dogs at the entrance of our community. Toss them a bit of food, and they wag their tails and grin at me. But you? What are you good for, other than mooching off Xinying?"

Wang Ying shot Bi Wenfeng a venomous look before pulling him into the building.

Huang Xinying's face fell, and she let out a soft sigh. Ye Fann noticed her dismay and quickly wrapped her in his arms, whispering, "I'm okay. Don't worry about me."

With that, they both headed inside.

The Huang family held considerable clout in Lin City, yet Huang Xinying's branch was merely a sideline. The family head, Huang Shihao, was disappointingly ineffectual. His son, a constant source of trouble, only served to diminish the family's standing within the Huang clan, relegating them to a lower status and a far less desirable living situation.

The apartment complex's hallway was musty and cold, the stench of garbage from a corner nearly overwhelming.

Bi Wenfeng subtly wrinkled his nose and discreetly covered it with his hand.

Wang Ying, eager to please, said with a sycophantic smile, "You've been overseas too long and aren't used to this anymore. Our Xinying hasn't had your good fortune. She had a tough childhood, and just when we thought she'd marry well and find happiness, she ended up with this loser."

Bi Wenfeng's mouth twisted into a smirk as he turned to Ye Fann with a challenging gaze. "Auntie, rest assured, I've returned to rescue Xinying from this miserable life. It would be wise for certain individuals to step aside voluntarily."

Ye Fann let out a contemptuous snort, unflinching in the face of Bi Wenfeng's challenge. To him, Bi Wenfeng was nothing more than a jester on a beam, hardly intimidating.

If not for the incident three years ago that forced him to conceal his true capabilities, how could someone like Bi Wenfeng ever get the upper hand over him? Luckily, the day of reckoning was drawing near.

With that thought in mind, Ye Fann stopped paying attention to Bi Wenfeng, took Huang Xinying by the hand, and led the way inside.

Wang Ying, noticing Bi Wenfeng's darkening expression, hurriedly reassured him, "He's just a worthless nobody. Wenfeng, don't bother with him. Sooner or later, Xinying will be yours."

Bi Wenfeng's mood lightened slightly upon hearing Wang Ying's words.

As the group entered, Huang Shihao was busy placing dishes on the table. He managed only a timid smile upon seeing everyone arrive.

Wang Ying, with a look of disdain, pushed him aside and took her place at the head of the table. She eagerly beckoned Bi Wenfeng to join her, saying, "Wenfeng, come sit here and taste my culinary skills."

This claim took everyone aback, and Ye Fann couldn't help but scoff internally. His mother-in-law's talent for taking credit was growing by the day. The meal was clearly the fruit of his father-in-law's labor, yet with a few words, she claimed all the praise for herself.

Unable to stand by any longer, Ye Fann approached Huang Shihao and offered, "Dad, let me help you."

"Ah, thank you!" Huang Shihao responded, patting Ye Fann's shoulder appreciatively, his eyes glistening with a hint of tears. Perhaps their shared struggles had forged a strong bond between them, making their relationship in the household quite solid.

Meanwhile, Huang Xinying found herself coerced into sitting next to Bi Wenfeng. No sooner had she taken her seat than Bi Wenfeng began to make unwelcome advances, caressing her hand and saying, "Look at how rough your hands have become. Sticking with that loser will never give you a good life. I'm working at the Golden Cauldron Group now. With me, you'll live a life of luxury, never having to endure hardship again."

Huang Xinying's brow furrowed, and just as she was about to refuse, Wang Ying cut her off.

"Are you referring to the Golden Cauldron Group, the top conglomerate in Lin City? The one that's impossible to get into, even with money?"

Bi Wenfeng nodded smugly, "Exactly. My return to the country was for this very opportunity. Working at a prestigious company like the Golden Cauldron Group is an honor. If Xinying agrees to marry me, I'm sure I can find a way to bring her on board as well."

Wang Ying's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Huang Xinying with earnest attention.

Without hesitation, Huang Xinying declined, "I'm quite content with my current company, but thank you for the offer."

"Why are you so obstinate?" Wang Ying yelled in frustration, her hand raised to strike Huang Xinying.

Ye Fann had just stepped out of the kitchen when he witnessed the altercation. He swiftly moved to intercept Wang Ying's hand, then turned a steely gaze on Bi Wenfeng, his voice icy as he enunciated each word, "Take your filthy hands off her."

In that moment, Ye Fann radiated an icy, intimidating presence that clearly stated he was not one to be provoked.

Bi Wenfeng felt a shiver run down his spine, visibly shaken by Ye Fann's formidable demeanor.

Attempting to mask his unease, he touched his nose and forced a grin, defiantly retorting to Ye Fann, "I won't let go. What are you going to do about it?"

Just then, Wang Ying slammed her hand on the table, stood up with hands akimbo, and stepped in front of Bi Wenfeng. She glared at Ye Fann, teeth bared, and spat out, "Look here, Wen Feng is my honored guest. If you dare lay a finger on him in my presence, believe me, I'll have you thrown out on your ear today!"

With Wang Ying's backing, Bi Wenfeng's confidence surged. He smirked arrogantly, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Auntie, there's no need to fret. He's nothing but a nobody. What could he possibly do to me?"

With that, he shoved Wang Ying aside and rose to confront Ye Fann head-on.

The height difference between them was noticeable, and in terms of aura, Bi Wenfeng paled in comparison to Ye Fann.

As Bi Wenfeng drew nearer, the extraordinary energy emanating from Ye Fann was palpable, causing his heart to pound and his hands to tremble uncontrollably.

Suddenly, Ye Fann placed a hand on Bi Wenfeng's shoulder, sending a jolt through him as if he'd been struck by lightning. His body went slack, and he nearly fainted.

Regret washed over him as cold sweat beaded on his temples. Why hadn't he just stayed safely behind Wang Ying instead of trying to show off?

Ye Fann's eyes flickered as he made a slight gesture with his hand. Bi Wenfeng exhaled in relief, then blurted out in a panic, "What are you planning to do now? Just so you know, my father is Bi Dadan, the Eight-armed Hell King himself. He's currently defending our nation's borders. If you lay a finger on me, you'll answer to him when he returns!"

"Your father is the Eight-armed Hell King?" Ye Fann's expression darkened, a surge of anger flooding his eyes as memories from three years ago came crashing back.

The Eight-armed Hell King, he scoffed internally.

Ye Fann's face was a tumult of emotions, alternating between smiles and scowls as if he were possessed.

Bi Wenfeng's throat tightened, and he spun on his heels to flee.

"Who said you could leave?!" Ye Fann's voice rang out.

Before Bi Wenfeng knew it, Ye Fann was at his side, his hand clamped around Bi Wenfeng's neck, backing him up against the wall with no escape.

"Is your father truly the Eight-armed Hell King?"

Bi Wenfeng, terrified, saw Ye Fann as a fearsome demon straight from the Underworld, come to claim his soul. If not for Huang Xinying's presence, he would have already been on his knees begging for mercy.

With a forced, ingratiating smile, Bi Wenfeng pleaded, "Yes, absolutely, my father is the Eight-armed Hell King. He'll be back before long. Spare me today, and I'll see to it that he gets you a position in his army. How about that?"

The corners of Ye Fann's mouth twitched into a smirk as the smile on his face grew more pronounced.

Bi Wenfeng's heart leapt with hope, believing no one could resist the allure of power. But his joy was short-lived.

With an icy tone, Ye Fann declared, "Then we'll settle both new and old debts together!"