“Where are you planning to go?”

Hearing the voice, Zhao Yun looked up and saw four strangers walking in from outside.

Leading them was a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. He had a clean-shaven face, wore a green robe, and had his hair tied with a jade hairpin, looking like someone from ancient times.

Behind the middle-aged man were three burly young men, all around thirty years old.

“Who are you?” Zhao Yun asked again. “How did you get in here?”

“The door was open, so we naturally walked in from outside.”

Impossible!

There were guards at the villa’s entrance. If these people had come from outside, the guards would have stopped them.

Could he be lying?

Zhao Yun scrutinized the middle-aged man again and found that he always wore a faint smile, not looking like he was lying.

Then, there was only one possibility.

The guards tried to stop them but failed.

Zhao Yun quickly pulled Little Tiger behind him and cautiously asked the middle-aged man, “Who exactly are you?”

The middle-aged man smiled and said, “I am Cao Yuan.”

Cao Yuan?

The name sounded familiar. Just as Zhao Yun was about to speak, a commotion came from behind. Turning around, he saw the Dragon King kneeling on the ground, loudly saying, “Greetings, Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old! I did not know you were coming, please forgive my lack of hospitality!”

Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old? This man is Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old?

Zhao Yun looked at the middle-aged man in shock, his face turning pale.

“Zhao Yun, kneel down quickly,” the Dragon King commanded.

Thud—

Zhao Yun hurriedly knelt on the ground and respectfully said, “Welcome, Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old.”

“Dragon King, there’s no need for such formalities. In fact, I’m younger than you, so I should be the one bowing to you.” Cao Yuan quickly walked over, helped the Dragon King up, and smiled, “Sorry for the sudden visit, I hope I didn’t disturb you?”

“Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old, it’s an honor for you to visit my humble abode,” the Dragon King said fearfully.

Cao Yuan smiled and said to Zhao Yun, “You can get up too.”

“Yes.” Zhao Yun stood up.

Then, Cao Yuan’s gaze fell on Little Tiger. He waved and said, “Come here, little one, let me hold you.”

Little Tiger, being a child, didn’t understand the complexities of adult matters and walked over.

Cao Yuan picked up Little Tiger and said with a cheerful smile, “This child looks good, with clear eyes and delicate features. I wonder if I’ll have the chance to hold him again in the future.”

Hearing this, the Dragon King’s face changed dramatically. He knelt down with a thud and said, “Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old, Little Tiger is just a child. Please spare him. I am willing to lead the brothers of Jiangzhou to submit to the Dragon Gate.”

“Dragon King, what do you mean by that? As the Sect Leader of Dragon Gate, would I harm a child?” Cao Yuan smiled and asked Little Tiger, “Where are you planning to go with Uncle Zhao Yun?”

“Planning to go abroad…”

“Little Tiger!” Zhao Yun hurriedly interrupted, glaring at Little Tiger, “Don’t speak carelessly in front of Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old.”

Cao Yuan smiled and asked Little Tiger again, “Which country are you planning to visit? Let me guess, is it America? Switzerland? Or Japan? No, it must be Australia.”

“How did you know we were going to Australia?” Little Tiger asked, his innocent face full of confusion.

Cao Yuan glanced at the Dragon King and smiled at Little Tiger, “There are some things I don’t know because I’m too lazy to check. But once I do, nothing can be hidden from me.”

Hearing this, the Dragon King’s heart was in turmoil.

The manor in Australia was purchased through secret channels over a decade ago, very discreetly. The Dragon King had only told Zhao Yun about it yesterday and had never mentioned it to anyone else before.

Unexpectedly, Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old had found out.

In an instant, cold sweat soaked his back.

“Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old, to be honest, I want to send my grandson abroad,” the Dragon King confessed.

“Why? Have you done something to betray me?” Cao Yuan’s smile remained, but his voice was filled with coldness.

“No.” The Dragon King raised his head and looked directly into Cao Yuan’s eyes, “Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old, I can swear to the heavens in front of you that I have never done anything to betray you.”

Cao Yuan stared into the Dragon King’s eyes for a full half-minute before asking, “Then why send your grandson away?”

The Dragon King said bitterly, “I have offended someone, and I’m afraid of retaliation.”

“Are you referring to Xiao Qingdi?”

“Yes.” The Dragon King said, “Young Master Xiao was severely injured. He will definitely not let me go.”

“I was attacked in your territory. Do you think I will let you go?”

Cao Yuan’s smile disappeared, and the air in the courtyard seemed to freeze.

“Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old, I had no knowledge of this, but since you were attacked in Jiangzhou, I bear an inescapable responsibility. Do with me as you please,” the Dragon King said.

“Very well.” Cao Yuan said, “Xiao Qingdi conveyed a message for me, but you colluded with others to kill his servants and injure him. That is your first crime.”

“Last night, several of my men died protecting me, and my adopted son nearly died. As the Boss of Jiangzhou’s underground forces, you have managed Jiangzhou so chaotically. That is your second crime.”

“Based on these two points, I want your head. Do you accept?”

“I accept.” The Dragon King pleaded, “I only hope that Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old can spare my grandson and Zhao Yun…”

“Don’t worry, we in this line of work don’t harm family members. I understand that.”

The Dragon King’s face showed a grateful smile, “Thank you for your great kindness, Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old. I wish you boundless fortune and a swift unification of the world.”

“Dragon King, farewell.” Cao Yuan said, and one of the young men behind him stepped forward, holding a dagger.

Seeing this, Zhao Yun was shocked and hurriedly knelt down, “Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old, can you spare the Dragon King’s life? I am willing to trade my life for his.”

“How dare you! This is not your place to speak. Get out!” the Dragon King shouted sternly.

“Ninety-Thousand-Year-Old, I beg you.”

Bang, bang, bang!

Zhao Yun kept kowtowing to Cao Yuan, and soon, his forehead was covered in blood.

Cao Yuan’s eyes showed a hint of admiration as he looked at Zhao Yun, “In our line of work, we put honor above all else. You are willing to die for your master, and I admire that. But I cannot grant your request.”

“Why?” Zhao Yun looked at Cao Yuan in confusion.

Cao Yuan said, “Although I have killed countless people, I never kill the innocent. You are not guilty, so I cannot kill you. Otherwise, what would people think of me?”

“Moreover, if I grant your request today, then tomorrow, someone else might use the same method to trade a life for a life. Should I agree or not?”

“If I agree, then the rules of Dragon Gate would become meaningless, because no matter what crime is committed, one could simply find someone to take the fall. But if I don’t agree, then my men would say I’m unfair because of your precedent.”

“Therefore, I cannot grant your request. Do you understand?”

“I understand.” Zhao Yun nodded in sorrow.

“Kill!” Cao Yuan covered Little Tiger’s eyes with his hand, and the young man holding the dagger stabbed it into the Dragon King’s throat…

[Author’s Note]

I’ve been very busy with work these days, but more updates are coming soon.