Chapter 68

"Your Excellency, the City Lord."

"Pay respects to the City Lord." ...

Around the square, countless onlookers bowed, their voices merging into a vast wave that lingered in the air above the square for a long time.

Outside the special passage of the square, over a hundred figures emerged. A dashing middle-aged man and a beautiful young girl were particularly eye-catching. As they passed, the residents of Stone City respectfully bowed, clearly showing their extraordinary status in the entire city.

Du Shaofu raised his head and looked up, and the one who arrived was indeed the City Lord, Ye Baolin.

The girl behind him was also Ye Zijin, with fair skin and a delicate face. She was a few years younger than Qin Xiaolu and Bai Caiyi, but her aura was no less impressive than theirs.

"Everyone, there's no need for such formalities."

Ye Baolin walked to the front of the square, gesturing along the way that the residents of Stone City did not need to be so formal.

"Your Excellency, the City Lord."

The strong figures from the Du, Qin, An, and Bai families all stood up and bowed, as they had to show respect to the City Lord.

"There's no need for such formalities, everyone."

Ye Baolin smiled, waving his hand to indicate that everyone did not need to be so formal. Then he sat down in the center, his calm demeanor naturally commanding respect.

"Shaofu, it's been a long time."

Amidst the envious gazes of many, Ye Zijin approached Du Shaofu, smiling faintly, which made many of the surrounding young men and youths stare in a daze.

Originally, Bai Caiyi and Qin Xiaolu were both absolute beauties, but with Ye Zijin's appearance, the two women seemed to pale in comparison, almost becoming mere foils.

"It hasn't been that long, has it?"

Seeing the gazes that could kill him, Du Shaofu could only inwardly sigh. He knew that the girl in front of him was deliberately trying to stir up trouble for him, but he had no way to stop her.

Ye Zijin moved even closer to Du Shaofu, almost pressing against his chest. A perfect curve formed at the corner of her mouth as she nodded, her lips slightly upturned, and she whispered, "I heard that someone deliberately caused you trouble recently. It looks like there will be quite a few people causing you trouble today, but my Ye family will definitely stand by you."

As Ye Zijin stood so intimately in front of Du Shaofu, many of the surrounding gazes became even more indignant.

In the various major families, many young men were already clenching their fists, ready to make Du Shaofu pay for his audacity.

Even many of the strong figures from the major families looked at Du Shaofu and Ye Zijin with deep meaning.

Du Hao, Du Chong, and Du Yan, though standing behind Du Shaofu, were also filled with envy and jealousy.

They couldn't understand how a fool for ten years could suddenly change so much, overshadowing them completely. More importantly, it seemed that even Ye Zijin's heart had fallen for him.

In terms of strength, Du Hao and Du Chong were very clear that they were no longer as strong as Du Shaofu. But in terms of handsomeness, they all felt that they were a few steps ahead of Du Shaofu.

"Since Miss Ye likes to do this, I think I should cooperate, don't you think?"

A smile appeared on Du Shaofu's face, and as he spoke, he suddenly stepped forward, pressing tightly against Ye Zijin. His right arm wrapped around her slender waist, which was barely a handful.

So tightly pressed together, Du Shaofu could feel two soft spots pressing against his chest, making his heart tremble for the first time in such close contact with a woman, a strange feeling rising in his heart.

Ye Zijin was instantly stunned. She never expected Du Shaofu to be so bold in public, in front of the entire city. Her heart trembled, and her face turned red.

At that moment, the countless young men and youths around the square and the surroundings stared at the two tightly embraced figures, their eyes first turning blank and then bloodshot.

The girl who no one in the city could touch was now openly embraced by that young man, and the feelings of the crowd can be imagined.

The people from the major families were stunned. Could the rumors be true? Even Ye Baolin and the strong figures from the Ye family were taken aback.

"This kid, he sure knows how to take advantage."

Only Du Zhenwu and Du Zhixiong, after a moment of surprise, both showed a smile, inwardly laughing.

In the crowd, An Long and Cao Qitai, looking at the two tightly pressed together, both had a cold glint in their eyes, their faces darkening, but they quickly returned to normal.

Cao Qitai's dark expression dissipated faster than An Long's.

"The competition is about to start. I hope you can make it to the end."

The blush on Ye Zijin's face faded, and she quickly regained her composure. She moved slightly to the right, her slender waist slipping out of Du Shaofu's grasp.

She smiled faintly, her eyes calm, and looked up at Du Shaofu, her gaze deep, saying, "My Ye family will help you deal with one family. The other two will be up to you."

With that, she turned and gracefully walked away.

"Everyone, it's about time. Let's begin."

Ye Baolin said softly, seemingly not noticing the scene, but his gaze inadvertently swept over Du Shaofu.

"Whoosh!"

As Ye Baolin spoke, an old man in a long robe from the Ye family leaped forward, like an eagle spreading its wings, and lightly landed in the center of the square.

"Good!"

As the old man landed, his graceful movements earned applause from the crowd.

The old man nodded slightly at the crowd and then loudly said, "Today is the triennial competition among the young generations of the five major families of Stone City, representing the continuous emergence of new talents in our city. Now, let the participants from each family step forward."

"Go ahead."

Ye Baolin, An Qingsong, Qin Zongqiong, Bai Jiru, and others, their expressions slightly changing, looked at their eager young descendants and said softly.

"Yes."

The young men and women from the major families nodded. Ye Zijin took the lead, her figure gracefully leaping forward, her body soaring through the air like a leaf on the water, and she landed lightly on the square, elegant and noble, with a touch of coldness, captivating the hearts of the crowd.

Bai Caiyi's eyes flickered, her long dress fluttering, and a surge of energy propelled her body forward, like a fairy gliding through the air, and she landed gracefully near Ye Zijin, drawing admiring gazes from the crowd.

Qin Xiaolu, not to be outdone, her feet emitting a surge of energy, leaped into the air. Suddenly, a vortex of energy burst from her feet, propelling her body to spin like a top in the air before landing near Bai Caiyi.

Qin Xiaolu clearly did not want to be outshone by Ye Zijin and Bai Caiyi, and her graceful movements were truly impressive.

"Good!"

As the three women landed, their graceful figures competing for attention, the applause echoed throughout the square.