"How was it? Did I give anything away?"
As soon as he entered the study in the backyard, Commander Wang Kezheng asked the King of the Eastern Domain, who was sitting in a grand armchair.
Perhaps a little drunk, the King of the Eastern Domain glanced at him lazily and said, "Naturally, I wouldn't give anything away. After all, I've memorized all the information and past records you provided!"
"That's good!" Wang Kezheng nodded, relieved.
"If there's nothing else, you may withdraw," the King of the Eastern Domain waved his hand.
Wang Kezheng's eyes narrowed. He sneered, "You'd better remember to maintain the proper attitude in front of me. I can put you in power, and I can also bring you down. Without me, you are nothing. If I wanted to crush you, it would be no harder than crushing an ant!"
Sensing the coldness in Wang Kezheng's eyes, the King of the Eastern Domain felt a chill run through him and instinctively stood up.
"Yes, yes, Commander, you are absolutely right. I will definitely pay attention to this in the future!" the King of the Eastern Domain said repeatedly, his tone carrying an unmistakable hint of subservience.
Commander Wang Kezheng snorted and then swept out of the room.
Only then did the King of the Eastern Domain slump back into his chair and exhale a long breath, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yunlong had returned to the villa at the foot of the mountain by car.
As soon as he got out of the car, Zhuge Wushuang couldn't help but ask, "How was it, Master? Did you notice anything unusual at the gathering?"
Before Xiao Yunlong could answer, Tu Fu interjected, "I didn't notice anything unusual. I met His Highness the King of the Eastern Domain once years ago when I was following the Old King of the North. He should be fine."
Xiao Yunlong didn't answer directly. He glanced at the people present and said calmly, "Wushuang, Tu Fu, come with me to the study. I have some questions about the Northern Territory for you. It's getting late, everyone else should go rest."
It was already late at night. Although the moon in the sky was exceptionally clear and bright, everyone was clearly tired from the Mid-Autumn Festival feast.
Zhuge Ya bid farewell to Pan Chaofeng with clasped hands and left directly. Then Jun Bufan also chose to leave.
However, as Tang Bowen turned to leave, he cast a meaningful glance at Xiao Yunlong. Being sharp and intelligent, he realized that Xiao Yunlong must have discovered something important during the Mid-Autumn Festival feast, otherwise, he wouldn't have summoned Zhuge Wushuang and Tu Fu to the study so late at night.
But Tang Bowen also knew that although he and Xiao Yunlong were cousins, they hadn't spent much time together, and his current strength was only at an ordinary level, so he couldn't enter the inner circle for now.
Perhaps sensing Tang Bowen's unusual behavior, Xiao Yunlong said, "Big cousin, it's not that I don't trust you by not calling you and Bufan to the study. It's just that some things involve too much, and knowing too much would be detrimental to your current martial arts cultivation!"
Tang Bowen smiled slightly and said, "I understand. Don't worry, I will cultivate even harder from now on and strive to catch up with Wushuang and Tu Fu as soon as possible to share your burdens!"
After saying this, Tang Bowen turned and left.
Perhaps sensing that the atmosphere had suddenly become a bit heavy, Tu Fu asked in surprise, "Master, has something big really happened?"
"Stop rambling and let's go to the study!" Xiao Yunlong snorted and strode towards the study.
Zhuge Wushuang and Tu Fu followed closely, their hearts filled with curiosity and a slight nervousness. In fact, they rarely saw their Master with such a solemn expression, which meant that something major must have happened.
With a bang, the door to the study closed as the three of them entered.
Xiao Yunlong stood in the center of the room with his hands behind his back, silent for a moment.
The impatient Tu Fu quickly couldn't help but ask, "Master, has something really happened in the Northern Territory?"
Zhuge Wushuang rolled his eyes and glared at him, "Can't you use your brain, you big brute? How could anything happen in the Northern Territory at this time? It must be the King of the Eastern Domain from the banquet earlier who is problematic."
"The King of the Eastern Domain is problematic? That's impossible! Didn't I just say I met him years ago?" Tu Fu retorted.
Xiao Yunlong, who was standing with his back to them, suddenly said in a deep, cold voice, "Wushuang is right. The King of the Eastern Domain is indeed problematic, and a very big problem!"
"Ah, he's really problematic?" Tu Fu's eyes widened.
Xiao Yunlong slowly turned around and looked at them, saying word by word, "The King of the Eastern Domain at the banquet was a fake!"
"A fake?" Zhuge Wushuang and Tu Fu were shocked on the spot. They couldn't help but exclaim in unison, "Master, how did you determine he was fake?"
Xiao Yunlong let out a cold laugh and walked to the window. Through the clean glass, he looked up at the bright full moon in the sky and said mockingly, "Three years ago, the Old King of the North and I went to the imperial capital. It was also the fifteenth of August. The Old King of the North and the Old King of the East met at a secluded manor outside the imperial capital."
"And then?" Tu Fu couldn't help but ask.
"I clearly remember that on the fifteenth of August that year, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and there was no moon at all. It even rained in the latter half of the night."
Xiao Yunlong paused here, turned around, and looked at them again, continuing, "But at the banquet just now, that King of the Eastern Domain actually said that three years ago, the moon in the sky was as big and round as it is tonight. This is simply impossible!"
"This... could it be that the King of the Eastern Domain misremembered?" Tu Fu asked.
Zhuge Wushuang shook his head and said, "I think the possibility of misremembering is very small. After all, it's something that happened on the same day three years ago. And besides, big brute, didn't you notice that the King of the Eastern Domain's behavior has been very abnormal recently? He's often indulged in alchemy for longevity, which is completely inconsistent with his previous conduct!"
Xiao Yunlong said calmly, "Years ago, I also heard the Old King of the North mention that the King of the Eastern Domain was fond of alchemy. But given the Old King of the East's character, even if he liked it, he would never neglect the affairs of the Eastern Domain camp, let alone allow Fusang ronin warriors and martial artists to roam freely within the camp."
Tu Fu nodded, "That's true. In that case, the current King of the Eastern Domain is indeed very suspicious!"
Zhuge Wushuang quickly asked a crucial question, "Master, if what you said is true, and the current King of the Eastern Domain is a fake, then where is the real King of the Eastern Domain?"
"Right, where is the real King of the Eastern Domain now?" Tu Fu asked.
Xiao Yunlong curled his lips into a cold smile and said, "I'm afraid we'll have to ask Commander Wang Kezheng about that?"
Zhuge Wushuang's brow furrowed deeper. "Master, you mean that the current King of the Eastern Domain was deliberately arranged by Commander Wang Kezheng, and the real King of the Eastern Domain has likely been killed by the other party..."
Before Zhuge Wushuang could finish, Xiao Yunlong immediately waved his hand, "No, the real King of the Eastern Domain should not be dead yet. Most likely, he has been controlled and hidden by Wang Kezheng. From my understanding of Wang Kezheng, he doesn't have the guts to kill a king, at least not until he truly controls the entire Eastern Domain camp!"
"Master, if the real King of the Eastern Domain is not dead, but is being controlled and hidden by Wang Kezheng, where would he hide the Old King of the East?" Tu Fu asked.
Xiao Yunlong smiled slightly and said, "This is the most crucial point. This matter is of great importance, which is why I haven't told Tang Bowen and Jun Bufan yet. It's to avoid leaking any information that might put the Old King of the East in mortal danger. After all, a cornered dog will bite, and Wang Kezheng might do something desperate!"
Tu Fu gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, muttering, "Damn it, Master, if you ask me, we should just charge into the Commander's office, capture that bastard Wang Kezheng, and force him to reveal the whereabouts of the Old King of the East, then kill him with a single blow!"
Xiao Yunlong ignored his question and slowly turned to look at the bright full moon in the sky again.
Zhuge Wushuang couldn't help but roll his eyes at Tu Fu and say, "Can't you use your brain, you big brute? Wang Kezheng is not a simple person. Would he hide the Old King of the East in his own residence? If we rush in directly, what can you do if he denies it? Can you forcibly kill him? No matter what, he is still the Commander of the Eastern Domain camp. How can we act so recklessly!"
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Tu Fu asked.
"The most crucial thing at this moment is to find the real Old King of the East before Wang Kezheng notices. I believe Master called us here tonight precisely to assign this task to us two."
After they finished speaking, they turned and looked up at Xiao Yunlong.
Xiao Yunlong said, "This matter absolutely cannot be detected by Wang Kezheng, otherwise the Old King of the East will surely be in danger. You two will investigate secretly and find the Old King of the East safely!"
"Yes!" Tu Fu nodded heavily.
Zhuge Wushuang's brow furrowed even deeper. He asked, "Master, our every move in the Eastern Domain camp is likely being monitored by Wang Kezheng. It might not be easy to act secretly under his nose."
Tu Fu immediately said, "Then how about we call Qinglong and Zhuque?"
Xiao Yunlong waved his hand, "That won't do. The Dragon Blood Guard must have them to maintain order. If all of you are absent, and the Northeast Zhang family sends people to instigate them, the entire Dragon Blood Guard might fall into chaos. So, they absolutely cannot come. They must stay and guard the house!"
Zhuge Wushuang nodded, "Now, most of the Northern Territory camp is controlled by that little tiger of the Northeast Zhang family. The remaining Dragon Blood Guard is your last resort, Master, and your most elite force. We must not let it be disrupted again. Otherwise, if there is any war in the Northern Territory in the future, it will be difficult for you to clean up the mess when you return!"
"Then if it's really impossible, Tu Fu and I will just have to act carefully," Tu Fu said.
Xiao Yunlong smiled and said, "Don't worry. I will find the right opportunity to create opportunities for you. Remember, focus on the King's Mansion in Hu City. That place is currently the most suspicious!"
"Yes!" Zhuge Wushuang and Tu Fu nodded immediately.
"If there's nothing else, you may withdraw. Do not act rashly in the next few days. Wait for my orders in everything, especially you, big brute. This matter concerns the life of the Old King of the East and the overall situation of the Eastern Domain camp. The Old King of the East is the sworn brother of the Old King of the North. We cannot mess things up because of your recklessness!"
Xiao Yunlong said earnestly.
"Don't worry, Master, I know what I'm doing!" Tu Fu nodded, then the two clasped hands and walked away.
In fact, Xiao Yunlong understood the temperament of General Baihu, Tu Fu, very well. Although this big brute was hot-tempered and easily angered, he was actually meticulous despite his rough exterior, especially becoming exceptionally calm at crucial moments.
Otherwise, Xiao Yunlong wouldn't have appointed him as the General of Baihu, a position of such importance.
As soon as Zhuge Wushuang and Tu Fu left, Pan Chaofeng hurried over from the front yard.
"Master, please forgive me for disturbing you so late at night. Someone wishes to see you!" Pan Chaofeng said softly outside the study.
"Who wants to see me at this late hour?" Xiao Yunlong asked.
"It's the Third Commander, Lord Li Guangfa. He just secretly notified me that he wishes to see you!" Pan Chaofeng said after entering.
"Commander Li San wants to see me?" Xiao Yunlong frowned.
"Yes, Master. The location is a dilapidated thatched hut deep in the back mountain. I happen to know that place. Commander Li San said that it's best not to let a fourth person know about this. I wonder if Master..."
Before Pan Chaofeng could finish, Xiao Yunlong said, "Let's go. You lead the way. It just so happens that I also plan to meet him!"
The perceptive Xiao Yunlong realized that Commander Li Guangfa might know something, and this could potentially be a breakthrough in the entire matter.