The North, Snow City.
It was dusk on this evening.
Long Xingyun’s entourage of five cars slowly drove into the Dragon family villa.
As the cars stopped, Long Xingyun and Lu San alighted. An elder, accompanied by three individuals, strode quickly to greet them.
“Uncle Zhong, why are you here?”
Long Xingyun quickly greeted the elder.
The man addressed as Uncle Zhong was over fifty, with a stooped posture and a sallow complexion. He was Long Xingyun’s grandfather’s personal bodyguard and the overall manager of the entire Dragon Sect.
The three people accompanying him, dressed in black short tunics, were also his grandfather’s bodyguards.
Although Long Xingyun was a prominent figure within the Dragon Manor, he clearly felt subordinate to Uncle Zhong.
In this setting, Lu San could only keep his head bowed and hands respectfully clasped, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Despite being a steward himself, he was a nobody in Uncle Zhong’s presence.
Uncle Zhong stated expressionlessly, “Xingyun, the Dragon Master wants you to go to the meeting hall. He is waiting for you there.”
“Also, Lu San, you will accompany him!”
“Yes, Uncle Zhong, I will go!” Long Xingyun nodded and responded.
The Dragon Master, whom Uncle Zhong referred to, was actually Long Xingyun’s grandfather, Long Xiaotian, and the patriarch of the Long clan in Snow City.
Long Xingyun was well aware that his grandfather summoning him at this time was undoubtedly about the trip to Zhuxi Village.
Under normal circumstances, the meeting hall was only convened for matters of great importance concerning the clan.
Long Xiaotian rarely appeared in the meeting hall, indicating that the events involving Long Xingyun in Zhuxi Village had enraged him.
Long Xingyun and Lu San followed Uncle Zhong, one after the other.
As they traversed several corridors and moon gates, the meeting hall lay ahead.
Just a few steps forward, a man in his thirties, tall and thin, wearing a deep blue Tang suit, emerged from behind a rockery. He was Long Xingyun’s cousin, Long Xingfeng.
“Uncle Zhong, may I borrow a moment to speak with my younger brother, Xingyun?” Long Xingfeng bowed to Uncle Zhong and said.
Uncle Zhong, his expression unchanged, nodded. “Do not waste too much time, otherwise, the Dragon Master will be very angry.”
The implication was that any delay would bring only detriment to Long Xingyun.
“Thank you, Uncle Zhong, I understand, I understand!”
Long Xingfeng bowed to Uncle Zhong, then pulled Long Xingyun aside and said, glaring, “Xingyun, have you lost your mind?”
“You caused such a huge mess, and you still dare to come back?”
“The leader of the Northern Branch of the Hidden Elite Families, Jiang Feijiao, has issued a strict order to my grandfather. As soon as you return, you must be executed according to the rules of the Hidden Elite Families.”
“Otherwise, the Long family will be demoted and expelled from the Hidden Elite Families!”
The demotion Long Xingfeng spoke of meant severing all of the Long clan’s business dealings with the outside world.
This action would bring an end to the Long clan’s luxurious lifestyle.
However, the Long clan was a large and influential family. They would certainly not be willing to end their affluent lifestyle for the sake of one person, Long Xingyun.
Although Long Xingyun was Long Xiaotian’s most beloved grandson, he could not turn against the majority of the family for him.
Therefore, the only way out was for Long Xingyun to die!
Long Xingyun naturally understood this himself.
“Big Brother, I know all of this!” Long Xingyun said calmly.
Long Xingfeng’s face darkened, and he said angrily, “Since you know it all, why did you come back?”
He took out a bank card and thrust it into Long Xingyun’s hand, saying, “This card has over twenty million yuan. You and Lu San should escape through that alleyway over there. There are cars waiting for you outside.”
“As for Grandpa’s affairs, I will handle them with Uncle Zhong!”
Hearing this, Long Xingyun pushed the bank card back into Long Xingfeng’s hand and smiled. “Big Brother, thank you for your kindness. I will take responsibility for my own actions. I don’t want to be a coward and shame the entire Long family over this matter!”
With that, he turned and walked away, coming before Uncle Zhong. “Uncle Zhong, let’s go!”
Uncle Zhong led Long Xingyun and Lu San to the meeting hall.
At this moment, Long Xiaotian sat in the center of the meeting hall, with other members of the Long clan seated around and behind him.
Long Xingyun’s mother had passed away years ago, and his father, Long Zhanhu, managed the Long family’s businesses overseas and rarely returned.
Long Xiaotian had not informed his son, Long Zhanhu, about the events involving Long Xingyun. The reason was simple: Long Zhanhu had a severe heart condition, and he feared that hearing the news would be too much of a shock, leading to his death.
Long Xiaotian did not want to lose his grandson and his son’s life!
“Xingyun, you’ve returned just in time. Tell me, how should this great mess you’ve caused be handled?” Long Xiaotian questioned, his face grim.
*Thump!*
Long Xingyun knelt before his grandfather.
Was he begging for mercy from the Dragon Master?
Immediately, several people cast contemptuous glances at him.
“Hmph, you were quite bold when causing trouble, weren’t you?”
“What, are you scared now?”
“Take responsibility for your own actions!”
“Don’t drag everyone else down with your personal matters!”
His peers, who were envious of Long Xiaotian’s favoritism towards Long Xingyun, began to accuse him with veiled barbs, each one wishing he would die immediately.
In the face of self-interest, the so-called kinship dissolved in an instant.
Under these circumstances, Long Xiaotian, with his grim face, found it difficult to say anything.
“Grandpa, for Bai Yiling, I admit that I rashly and secretly rushed to Zhuxi Village. I was arrogant and impulsive. This not only violated the rules established between the Hidden Elite Families in the past but also tarnished the reputation of my Long family!”
“For the sake of our entire family, I am willing to die!”
Long Xingyun said with a calm expression. “I have only one request: that after I die, you do not tell my father, who is doing business overseas!”
“Even if my father returns, just say that I have gone out to travel!”
Hearing this, Long Xiaotian’s eyelids twitched slightly.
He sighed softly and said, “Xingyun, it is good that you think this way. As for your father, I will make my own arrangements.”
“Ah Zhong, take Xingyun away!”
Just as Uncle Zhong was about to step forward, Lu San suddenly knelt on the ground and hurriedly cried out to Long Xiaotian, “Dragon Master, Cheng Xiaofan from Zhuxi Village has a message for you!”
“What message?” Long Xiaotian’s brow furrowed.
Lu San said, “He wants you to show Young Master Long some leniency, saying that one should leave a way open for others to meet again in the future…”
“Silence!”
Before Lu San could finish relaying the message, Long Xiaotian’s expression changed, and he sternly shouted, “A mere villager, relying on his strength, wants to threaten me?”
“Since when have outsiders been allowed to interfere in the affairs of my Long family?”
“Ah Zhong, take Xingyun away and execute him immediately!”
“Wait!”
Long Xingyun suddenly called out, “Grandpa, I have something to give you!”
Long Xiaotian looked at his grandson with confusion and asked, “What else do you have to give me?”
“Grandpa, it’s a bottle of medicine. Cheng Xiaofan from Zhuxi Village gave it to me!” Long Xingyun replied.