Chapter 48: Master of the Arena

Gao Er strode forward and launched a flurry of kicks at Manager Xu’s legs. Though not blindingly fast, the blows were powerful—no ordinary person could withstand such force. With two sharp cracks, Manager Xu’s legs bent outward in a grotesque shape and he collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.

Yet not a soul dared approach. An oppressive aura filled the space, suffocating everyone with its intensity.

“Gao Er, I’m the manager here! How dare you treat me this way? I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life in prison!” Manager Xu shouted weakly.

Gao Er remained silent, standing to the side.

Manager Xu cursed for a long time, only to realize no one was tending to him. No one called the police or the chairman, not even to fetch him medical help. Enraged, he bellowed, “I’ll fire every last one of you!”

He then glared furiously at Chen Yuyi. “This mall belongs to the Bai family. Offend me, and you offend them. You’re dead!” He fumbled for his phone again, intent on calling the chairman.

“Brother Yu!” At that moment, Bai Lang finally arrived. Sensing the tension, he hurried over at once.

When Manager Xu, sprawled on the floor, saw that it was the chairman’s son, he forgot his pain and the call, scrambling up from the ground.

“Young Master Bai, please help me!” he wailed like a grievously wronged wife.

Bai Lang paused, baffled by the scene before him. He wanted to figure out what had happened, but when he saw Chen Yuyi standing there coldly, he knew these people must have offended him. Bai Lang broke out in a cold sweat.

He ignored Manager Xu’s pleas and hurried over to Chen Yuyi, bowing low as he walked.

“Brother Yu, did these blind fools offend you?”

At the sight of his deference, everyone froze, an ominous feeling flooding their hearts.

Manager Xu was utterly stunned, snot running down his face, petrified on the spot.

The saleswoman shuddered, finally realizing that the man had told the truth—he really did know Young Master Bai, and clearly their relationship was far greater than she had imagined.

“You’re all fired!” Bai Lang said without further inquiry, instantly grasping what had happened.

But Chen Yuyi simply walked over, ignoring Manager Xu entirely. He looked at the saleswoman and said quietly, “Wrap up the suit for me.”

The saleswoman trembled so much she could barely hold the suit.

“Sir, your suit!” Her voice was quavering so badly she could barely speak.

Chen Yuyi took the suit and said calmly, “I told you already, it was Young Master Bai who invited me to choose clothes here. Why wouldn’t you believe me?”

Bai Lang immediately jumped up and kicked the saleswoman aside. “You must have a death wish! You almost got me killed, you wretch!”

He then strode over to Manager Xu and, without caring for his injuries, slapped him hard across the face several times. “What kind of manager are you? Do you even take me seriously? And you dare to offend my boss!”

Now everyone understood—Young Master Bai himself called this man his boss. His status must be extraordinary.

Most of them relied on this job for their livelihood; after all, working at the Bai Family Mall was considered a good position in River City. Losing it would mean a hard road ahead, possibly even unemployment.

Unable to hold back any longer, they all knelt before Chen Yuyi. “Sir, please forgive us!”

The saleswoman, too, knelt so low she couldn’t raise her head, tears streaming down her face. “Sir, I’m sorry, I was wrong. Please, don’t fire me—I have two children at home to support.”

She had an affair with Manager Xu, not just out of vanity but also to secure her job. This job meant everything to her.

Manager Xu, meanwhile, crawled over to Chen Yuyi. Ever since Bai Lang had called him “boss,” he knew he was in serious trouble. His legs were probably gone, and if things went poorly, his life might be forfeit, given how brazenly he’d cursed at Chen Yuyi and the cold, murderous aura from Gao Er. How could he not be afraid?

“Sir, spare me! Please, spare me!” He clung to Chen Yuyi’s leg, begging with all his might.

Chen Yuyi frowned slightly. “Get lost.”

He didn’t need to say more. The security guards, eager to show initiative, immediately rushed over, grabbed Manager Xu, and dragged him outside.

Strangely, upon hearing that word, Manager Xu suddenly felt a rush of relief. Perhaps it was that word “get lost” that finally convinced him he wouldn’t die here after all. Moments ago, he had felt the chill of death. With relief flooding him, he lost consciousness and let the guards carry him away.

The space fell silent once more.

The saleswoman sobbed quietly, her whole body trembling like a frightened quail.

“Brother Yu, what should we do with this little tramp?” Bai Lang was at a loss. He’d only been delayed for a bit, and already such a mess had occurred. He couldn’t tell whether he or these fools were more unlucky. Chen Yuyi had even mentioned his name, yet they hadn’t cared—a bunch of blind idiots.

“She said she has two children to support. Let her stay here and sweep the floors,” Chen Yuyi replied coolly. He didn’t want to escalate things further; the woman hadn’t truly offended him—she had only looked down on him. Manager Xu, on the other hand, had been outrageously disrespectful.

As long as someone didn’t really mean him harm, Chen Yuyi saw no reason to pursue matters. He would mete out punishment, but never take a life—he had no taste for such things.

The saleswoman, hearing this, almost collapsed in relief. Sweeping the floors was still a job—better than being unemployed. Of course, if she lost this job, there was another path, but if she took it, how could she face her children? So in this moment, she even felt a twinge of gratitude toward Chen Yuyi.

Chen Yuyi glanced at Gao Er. “You’ll stay here.”

Gratitude shone in Gao Er’s eyes. “Thank you, sir!”

Then Chen Yuyi swept his gaze over the remaining security guards. “You may return to your posts.”

At that moment, Chen Yuyi seemed like the master of the place, radiating an unquestionable authority. His words were law; no one dared disobey.

The security guards realized they would keep their jobs, and, grateful, bowed to him before dispersing.

Bai Lang could only feel helpless—Brother Yu seemed more like the master of the Bai family than he did. Perhaps, one day, the Bai family might end up bearing the surname Chen. Still, thinking of Chen Yuyi’s extraordinary abilities, Bai Lang felt that having such a man as an ally could be the Bai family’s good fortune. He wondered what his father, Bai Guangyuan, would think. He’d have to find an opportunity to introduce him.

After Chen Yuyi changed into the suit, it was as if he had become a different person altogether.

His poised bearing and extraordinary presence put even the scions of noble families to shame.

Truly, clothes make the man, just as a saddle completes a fine horse.

Bai Lang couldn’t help but click his tongue in admiration. “Brother Yu, you really look like a movie star. Just imagine the crowds of starstruck girls you’d have trailing after you!”

Chen Yuyi glanced in the mirror—indeed, it was not bad. Ever since he began cultivating his physical body, all impurities had nearly been burned away. His features were as if carved from jade, yet he usually dressed so casually that his beauty was hidden like a fine jade covered in dust. Once unveiled, he dazzled the room.

Fortunately, the crowd had been cleared, so no one noticed the dramatic transformation.

But one girl standing beside Bai Lang was utterly stunned.

She was, in fact, the person Bai Lang had come to meet.