Li Hai never expected Zhu Youfu to betray him at this moment. It wasn't until a mouthful of fresh blood spurted from his mouth that he finally regained his senses.
However, it was a bit too late.
"You… you bastard!"
At this moment, Li Hai's face was as pale as paper. After enduring Zhu Youfu's sudden and fatal attack, he could clearly feel his life force draining away madly. Even his internal organs were being torn apart by the energy Zhu Youfu had infused, gradually losing their ability to maintain bodily functions.
Zhu Youfu's backstab had clearly been executed with full force.
Coupled with Li Hai's lack of any defense, the attack had sealed his fate.
"Brother Li, don't blame me. I just want to bring the people of my Cloud Horizon Chamber of Commerce to survive!"
Zhu Youfu looked at Li Hai, whose breath was gradually weakening. He withdrew his hand, looked at the fresh blood on it, and shook his head helplessly.
As he said, he just wanted to survive.
But unlike Li Hai, he did not want to survive by abandoning his kin.
In fact, the moment Li Hai decided that everyone would be cannon fodder, Zhu Youfu had already made his decision.
A person could be ruthless, but they must have a bottom line.
Clearly, Li Hai's actions had crossed his.
"Ha… haha! Cough, cough!"
Hearing Zhu Youfu's words, Li Hai revealed a ferocious expression. His contorted features conveyed a burning desire to tear the other man into pieces. He pointed at Ye Ming, whose expression was as placid as water, and said with a pained, mocking tone, "Zhu Youfu, do you really think he will let you go? Don't be so naive?"
"That's not important!"
Zhu Youfu no longer paid attention to Li Hai. Instead, he took a step forward, his plump body slightly bowing, kneeling in mid-air and saying respectfully, "This is the greatest sincerity I can offer. If you are satisfied, my Cloud Horizon Chamber of Commerce is willing to follow you, just like the Heavenly Pavilion."
Having already acted, Zhu Youfu had no way back. His only choice was to see this through to the end.
"A truly smiling tiger, your actions are quite decisive!" Ye Ming narrowed his eyes, two cold glints shooting from his pupils. He smiled and asked, "If I let you follow me, how can I guarantee that you won't stab me in the back like you did today?"
Upon hearing this, the scene fell into solemn silence.
Zhu Youfu's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
"Hahaha! Zhu Youfu, this is retribution, haha… cough, cough!"
Li Hai knew he had no chance of survival, so he was completely unrestrained now. "You abandoned your loyalty and wanted to be a dog for others. What a pity! If it were me, I wouldn't want a dog that bites behind one's back, hahaha!"
Li Hai's heartless mockery pierced Zhu Youfu's heart like sharp thorns. He turned his head and threw a punch.
Boom!
"Ah!"
Li Hai was blasted away, his last trace of life extinguished.
After doing all this, Zhu Youfu instantly regained his composure and knelt down again, abandoning his dignity. "My Lord! That fly was a bit noisy. I hope you don't mind me swatting him dead!"
"He was indeed quite noisy!"
Ye Ming smiled, looking at the ruthless Zhu Youfu, and returned to their previous topic. "Now, what will you do?"
If Zhu Youfu could not give Ye Ming a satisfactory answer, keeping him would undoubtedly be a hidden danger.
Especially after Zhu Youfu revealed his ruthless side, it seemed that eliminating him directly was the optimal solution.
After all, keeping someone like him around was truly dangerous.
"I will give you my answer now!"
Zhu Youfu lowered his head. After a brief period of struggle and deliberation, his expression sharpened as he made his final decision.
He extended his palm, and a golden light surged from within him, converging in his palm, which he presented to Ye Ming. "This is my answer!"
What Zhu Youfu held in his palm was a wisp of his divine soul.
In other words, if his divine soul were controlled by an outsider, his life would forever be in that person's hands.
This was an answer that could not be considered anything less than excruciating.
But he had no choice; this was the only way.
"Ruthless to outsiders and ruthless to himself, you are indeed a capable individual!"
Ye Ming looked at the divine soul in Zhu Youfu's palm and felt a slight change in his impression of the man.
However, Ye Ming did not directly accept Zhu Youfu's divine soul. Instead, he turned his gaze towards another graceful figure.
Yan You'er!
At this moment, she was recuperating from her injuries.
"Yan You'er, come here!" His indifferent voice echoed.
Hearing this, Yan You'er's eyes immediately snapped open. Despite being severely injured, she swiftly moved to Ye Ming's side and bowed.
"Master!"
"???" Ye Ming.
Master?
Why was she addressing him like this? Ye Ming was momentarily bewildered.
"Master?"
Seeing Ye Ming's lack of response, Yan You'er lowered her head and called out again, as if asking what was needed.
"Cough, cough! Well… that is, you can just call me Young Master. There's no need to call me Master!" Ye Ming averted his gaze, feeling somewhat awkward.
"Hm?"
Yan You'er looked up, a hint of confusion on her face. "Didn't you men like it when women address you that way? Do you not like it, Master?"
"I…"
Ye Ming was rendered speechless by Yan You'er's remark.
Although the word "Master" sounded pleasing, it felt strange. His mind involuntarily conjured up some peculiar images.
He wasn't sure why.
"Just call me Young Master. This is an order!"
Even though he said this, his tone was unmistakably the kind a master would use.
"Yes!"
Yan You'er lowered her head again. However, in a corner unseen by Ye Ming, the corners of the girl's lips curved upwards.
It seemed something amusing had happened.
"Alright! You're almost leading me astray!"
Ye Ming shook his head, dispelling any inappropriate thoughts. He then looked at the divine soul in Zhu Youfu's palm and said sternly, "Accept it!"
"Wh-what?"
At these words, not only Yan You'er was stunned, but Zhu Youfu himself widened his eyes abruptly.
He wanted to give his divine soul to Yan You'er? That meant…
"What? Do you have any objections?"
Ye Ming looked at the two of them, their bodies rigid, and his tone turned colder.
"No… I dare not!"
Zhu Youfu immediately turned around and presented the divine soul in his palm to Yan You'er, bowing respectfully. "Miss You'er, please accept it!"
The situation was now beyond his control; Zhu Youfu had no room to refuse.
"I…"
Yan You'er swallowed repeatedly, suddenly feeling flustered.
She naturally understood what this wisp of divine soul signified.
It was precisely because of this that she felt apprehensive.
"Where did your earlier aura go?"
Ye Ming glanced at Yan You'er, who showed a hint of timidity, and said coldly, "If you are intimidated by such a small matter, then it seems I need to reconsider whether the Heavenly Pavilion is still useful to me?"