Chapter Two: The Sister-in-law Turns Hostile!

Ye Wushang sat on the street, gazing at the key in his hand, unable to keep a bitter smile from his lips. “Mom, I’m alone again…”

Eight years ago, his father disappeared, leaving him and his mother to rely on one another.

Five years ago, his mother passed away from illness, leaving him to fend for himself.

It wasn’t until three years ago, when he met Lan Ruoxue and married her, that he gained family once more.

He had once believed that happiness was as simple as a peaceful family living in harmony and health.

But now, it seemed all of that was wishful thinking. What she wanted was far more than he ever imagined.

A cough racked his chest, the blockage in his heart unbearable. When he raised a hand to his lips, it came away slick with blood.

“My condition’s getting worse…” Ye Wushang sighed in defeat.

For three years of marriage, he’d set aside his alchemy, doing everything to hold their small family together.

In the end, all he’d received was a divorce agreement.

Suddenly, a sharp screech of brakes split the air. Dozens of black sedans pulled to a stop.

“Mr. Ye, congratulations on your wife’s company’s successful public listing.”

A dignified middle-aged man strode quickly up to Ye Wushang, bowing respectfully. “This is my gift for your wife. Please accept it.”

His name was Sheng Changchun.

He was the head of the Sheng family, one of the four great financial dynasties of Jinghan City.

He had spent a full month preparing this gift, all in hopes of currying favor with Ye Wushang.

But when he saw the gift, Ye Wushang’s expression only darkened. He shook his head. “Thank you for your kindness, Master Sheng, but it’s no longer needed.”

“Oh?” Sheng Changchun frowned. He was a man who’d seen countless people and immediately sensed something amiss.

He quickly signaled for his men to remove the gift, swallowing the words he’d planned to say.

“Master Sheng, if you have something to say, just say it.” Perceiving his thoughts, Ye Wushang said coolly.

Sheng Changchun looked awkward, choosing his words carefully. “Mr. Ye, to be frank, I have an elder brother who’s recently fallen gravely ill. He has sought out the most renowned doctors in the world, but his condition hasn’t improved.”

“I know your medical skills are exceptional, so I’d like to request your help…”

“I refuse.” Ye Wushang’s answer was blunt. “I have my principles…”

“I understand.” Sheng Changchun nodded, pulling a photograph from his pocket and handing it to Ye Wushang. “Please take a look, is this the Hanlong Grass you once asked me to find for you?”

Ye Wushang’s eyebrows rose.

In the photo, a small, multicolored herb nestled in a rock crevice.

Top-heavy, its slender form twisted like a flying dragon, standing proud against the wind!

Though tiny, it radiated an awe-inspiring aura!

“Where did you get this photo?” Ye Wushang asked, barely able to contain his excitement.

“It belongs to my elder brother.” Seeing Ye Wushang’s interest, Sheng Changchun seized the opportunity. “This Hanlong Grass grows beneath the rockery in his medicine garden. He said that if you can cure him, the Hanlong Grass will be your fee. What do you say?”

Ye Wushang was stunned.

Staring at the lifelike Hanlong Grass, his eyes shone.

Hanlong Grass was one of the five great herbs capable of curing his own grave illness.

He’d searched for years and had only managed to find two kinds so far.

If he could obtain this one, he still wouldn’t be able to refine the Soul Restoring Pill that could fully heal him.

But with his cultivation, he could at least concoct a Vitality Pill to stabilize his condition.

Taking it would extend his life by at least ten years!

Then, he would have enough time to extract the toxin from his own blood and perhaps uncover clues about his father’s disappearance.

“Deal.” Ye Wushang agreed without hesitation. “Tell me the address. I’ll pay a visit myself later.”

Although Lan Ruoxue had returned the key to him, he still wanted to check on the workshop first.

“Certainly, Mr. Ye!” Overjoyed at Ye Wushang’s agreement, Sheng Changchun said quickly, “There’s an ancient manor on the outskirts. If you give your name at the gate, someone will lead you in.”

…

Binjiang Street was the most bustling avenue in Jinghan City, and the workshop stood at its very center.

At nine in the evening, the place was packed and lively.

Arriving at the entrance, Ye Wushang saw a crowd gathered, pointing and whispering among themselves.

He frowned, pushed through the crowd, and went inside.

“Miss Lan, we’re all set—ready to begin at any time!” In front of the workshop, five excavators stood at attention. One of the drivers called down.

In the crowd, a sweet-looking young woman in a V-neck minidress nodded. “Alright, start demolition.”

“Brother Long has brought all the renovation workers. Once you’ve torn down the workshop, they’ll immediately begin turning it into a beauty salon.”

With that, she affectionately linked arms with the tall, well-dressed young man beside her, her face aglow with happiness.

Ye Wushang’s face darkened.

The woman was Lan Ruoshuang, Lan Ruoxue’s younger sister.

The man was Sun Chuanlong, heir to the second-tier Sun family in Jinghan City, and currently Lan Ruoshuang’s boyfriend.

He hadn’t expected that while Lan Ruoxue had just promised to return the workshop to him, her sister would arrive to tear it down.

A promise made, immediately broken.

Did she truly have no regard for their relationship?

“Stop!” As the excavators prepared to move, Ye Wushang shouted, stepping forward to block them.

“This is my family’s workshop. If I don’t agree, who dares demolish it?”

He glared at the five drivers, his tone icy and commanding.

The five drivers exchanged bewildered looks, turning in unison to the equally startled Lan Ruoshuang.

After a brief daze, Lan Ruoshuang recovered and, taking Sun Chuanlong’s arm, walked up to Ye Wushang.

“Ruoshuang, what’s going on?” Ye Wushang asked, confused. “Don’t you know this workshop was my mother’s legacy to me?”

But Lan Ruoshuang sidestepped his question, asking instead, “Tell me, did you really divorce my sister?”

“Hm?” Ye Wushang frowned. He had only just learned of Lan Ruoxue’s intention to divorce. How did she know?

“Yes, we divorced.” He nodded, bitterness in his voice. “Don’t blame your sister. Maybe we simply wanted different things…”

“Tch.” Lan Ruoshuang curled her lip in disdain. “Who’s blaming my sister? Honestly, you two should have divorced long ago!”

“A useless man who can only cook and clean all day—raising a dog would be better than keeping you around!”

Ye Wushang nearly lost his footing.

How could the sister-in-law who used to call him ‘brother-in-law’ suddenly speak this way?

He was about to respond when she whipped out a document from her bag, flipped to page six, and snapped, “Open your eyes and look carefully! The agreement says the car and house are yours, but the workshop isn’t included.”

“And during your marriage, my sister already gave the workshop to me.”

“So, what I do with it has nothing to do with you!”

A thunderclap seemed to strike Ye Wushang as he stared at the identical agreement.

He looked at her in disbelief. “Ruoshuang, how do you have this divorce agreement…”

“Obviously, I drafted it for my sister. Why wouldn’t I know?” Lan Ruoshuang rolled her eyes, mocking, “I knew you’d cling on like a leech, so when I was splitting the assets, I made sure to specify this point.”

“Now my sister has given you the house and car, and—oh yes, a million in cash, right?”

“After taking so much, you still want the workshop back? Have you no shame?”

Ye Wushang was momentarily speechless.

For three years, he had truly treated them as family, always thinking of their well-being.

But to them, he was nothing but a useless burden?

Even more absurd, it was she who had drafted his and Lan Ruoxue’s divorce agreement.

“You’ve misunderstood.”

“Your sister did offer me those things, but I didn’t take a single one…”

“Nonsense!” Lan Ruoshuang raised her voice, snorting coldly. “Who would walk away from millions? Do you think I’m a child?”

Sun Chuanlong gave Ye Wushang a shove, his tone hard. “Ye, don’t take our kindness for granted!”

“If you keep making trouble, I’ll make you regret it!”

Suppressing his fury, Ye Wushang said, “I’m not lying. If you don’t believe me, you can call Ruoxue…”

“Don’t try to bring my sister into this. I’m not falling for it!” Lan Ruoshuang cut him off. “Since you’re divorced, we’ll follow the agreement: the house and car are yours, the workshop is mine.”

“I’ll do whatever I want with it!”

With a meaningful glance at Sun Chuanlong, she gave her instructions.

Sun Chuanlong immediately pulled her close and shouted to the drivers, “What are you waiting for? Get to work!”

“In half an hour, I want this eyesore demolished—not a single brick left standing!”

…