The entire upper-class circle of the imperial capital was aware that beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were already surging. Some timid families were even restricting their younger generations from going out during this period.
This was because they understood clearly that the imperial capital was about to experience a storm, and perhaps even the very sky of the imperial capital would change!
The night passed without incident. After breakfast the next day, Xiao Yunlong suddenly issued an order to immediately proceed to the Celestial Strategy Mansion.
This genuinely stunned Zhuge Wushuang and Tu Fu, leaving them frozen in place, unable to react.
"Master... we're going to the Celestial Strategy Mansion now?" Tu Fu asked, turning his eyes.
Xiao Yunlong chuckled, "When we first arrived in the imperial capital, weren't you constantly urging me to directly assault the Celestial Strategy Mansion? Now that I've proposed going, you're all stunned. What is it, are you scared?"
"Don't say that, Master. To be honest, I, Tie Niu, have long been waiting for this day!" Tu Fu said, pulling at the corners of his mouth.
Even Zhuge Wushuang added, "Yes, Master. More than a year ago, you should have already occupied the Celestial Strategy Mansion and been conferred the title of Celestial Strategy Divine General. This has been delayed by a full year. Now, we are merely reclaiming what rightfully belongs to you."
Tang Bowen, however, frowned, "Master, I'm just a little concerned about what identity you will be using to go to the Celestial Strategy Mansion this time. If it's as the Prince of Zhenbei, according to the laws of the Dragon Kingdom, a king of a province cannot go to the Celestial Strategy Mansion without an imperial decree; but if it's in the name of the Celestial Strategy Divine General, the Dragon Kingdom has not formally conferred it!"
"I will go with this!" Xiao Yunlong said no more, merely raising his fist in front of everyone.
"Understood!" Tang Bowen nodded and said nothing further.
In fact, no matter where it was, the principle of might makes right always applied!
"Let's go, to the Celestial Strategy Mansion!" Xiao Yunlong waved his hand, then took Liu Ruyan's hand and walked towards the garage, with everyone quickly following.
Several cars roared out of Beiyun Residence, speeding towards the very heart of the imperial capital.
The hidden sentries around Beiyun Residence perked up again. Because Xiao Yunlong's earlier words had been spoken too loudly, the servants around had all heard them. Coincidentally, one or two of these servants had been bought off by the aristocratic families of the imperial capital.
The moment Xiao Yunlong left Beiyun Residence by car, the Long family received the news.
At this very moment, the head of the Long family, the Grand General Feilong, was preparing to go to the Celestial Strategy Mansion for routine duties. However, after hearing the report from his trusted subordinate, he stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowed tightly.
"This damned Xiao Yunlong, he's still coming to the Celestial Strategy Mansion!" Long Feixiong gritted his teeth and coldly exclaimed.
The trusted subordinate cupped his hands and said, "Patriarch, the fellow named Xiao resolved the Wang family last night. It is reported that all three father and son of the Wang family are dead. It seems the other party has likely learned some information about you from the Wang family, including the ambush in the capital a year ago. Therefore, this time he is going to the Celestial Strategy Mansion, it should be for revenge. We..."
"Do I need you to tell me that!" Long Feixiong coldly interrupted his subordinate.
The subordinate realized his words were inappropriate and quickly shut his mouth, remaining silent.
At this moment, a middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to Long Feixiong walked over. This was Long Feixiong's younger brother, Long Feitian!
"Big Brother, you probably can't go to the Celestial Strategy Mansion today. You need to avoid the spotlight. That brat named Xiao has now completely grown up, and relying solely on the Long family's power, I'm afraid we can't deal with him!" Long Feitian said directly.
Grand General Feilong sighed without replying, but his demeanor was filled with helplessness.
"If only we hadn't been so hesitant a year ago during that ambush and had been more decisive, sending in extremely powerful experts. That way, that brat named Xiao wouldn't have escaped, and we wouldn't be in this passive situation today!" Long Feitian said indignantly.
"What's the use of saying this now? You're right, I temporarily cannot go to the Celestial Strategy Mansion today. However, I am the Chief Grand General and temporarily acting Celestial Strategy Divine General. I cannot just retreat like this forever. If I do, within half a month, my authority will be completely lost, and the Celestial Strategy Mansion will naturally fall into that brat's hands."
Long Feixiong said through gritted teeth, his face filled with regret and unwillingness.
"Last night, even three sect-level experts from the Western Regions Hidden Sect were no match for Xiao Yunlong, let alone the Wang family's prodigy Wang Zhongshan, who was killed upon his return from that place. This shows the terrifying might of that brat Xiao's martial arts cultivation!"
Long Feitian paused here, then continued, "Big Brother, should we ask the Feng family to intervene?"
"I'm afraid even asking the Feng family to intervene might be of no avail."
Long Feixiong waved his hand and sighed, "That brat Xiao Yunlong has completely grown up. His growth speed is simply astonishing. It's a pity our family's Qilin prodigy is currently in seclusion in that mysterious place and cannot be contacted. Otherwise, if he were to return, there might still be room for maneuver."
"Yes, our family's Jiu Tian is now one of the three young masters of the Dragon Guard Pavilion. His martial arts cultivation has long surpassed the mundane, but we currently cannot contact him!" Long Feitian also shook his head and sighed.
"Besides that, there is another way, and that is to go to the Dragon Guard Pavilion. I believe with Jiu Tian's influence, it might be possible to persuade the mid-level experts of the Dragon Guard Pavilion to intervene. Wasn't Wang Zhongshan's master an elder of the Dragon Guard Pavilion? If he knew his beloved disciple had been killed, how could he stand idly by?"
Long Feixiong's eyes suddenly lit up as he said this, then continued, "Also, the Huaxia Alliance. Last night, two young prodigies from the Huaxia Sect were also killed by that Xiao Yunlong. The ancient martial arts sect, the Huaxia Alliance, cannot remain indifferent. Oh, and Lan Yongzheng's son, what's his name again?"
"Lan Mingyu!" Long Feitian reminded him.
"Yes, Lan Mingyu. It is said that this young man has considerable martial arts talent and was taken as a personal disciple by an elder of the Dragon Guard Pavilion. Currently, Lan Mingyu has been brought into that mysterious place by that Pavilion Elder. As long as we find a way to contact Lan Mingyu, how could that Lan family boy not seek revenge for his father's death?" Long Feixiong said.
"Indeed, Big Brother, after your analysis, it seems that this brat named Xiao has offended quite a few forces during this period. He has even offended many important figures within the Dragon Guard Pavilion. If we can get these important figures from the Dragon Guard Pavilion to act together against that brat, then he will surely die!" Long Feitian said.
"This is what they call 'pride comes before a fall,' and 'those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind'!"
Long Feixiong snorted, then continued, "However, to contact so many strong individuals to take action will likely not be possible in a short period, requiring at least half a month. Especially for the Huaxia Alliance, I will need to personally go to the Kunlun Mountains in the Western Regions!"
"Does this mean, Big Brother, that you will be leaving the imperial capital for a while? If that's the case, if that brat Xiao finds out you're not here, won't he turn the Celestial Strategy Mansion upside down?" Long Feitian asked.
"What if he turns it upside down? Let him be arrogant for a few days, but he's just a grasshopper in autumn, he won't be able to hop for long!"
Long Feixiong snorted, then added, "However, to temporarily stabilize that brat, at least to prevent him from attacking our family, before I leave, I will send him a letter, proposing that both sides resolve their grievances through martial arts means!"
"That is a good idea!" Long Feitian nodded.
"I will go write the letter now, and then you send it. Time is limited, and after writing it, I must act immediately. In at most a month, I will return, and by then, it will surely be the death of that brat Xiao Yunlong!"
After saying this, Long Feixiong snorted heavily, then turned and walked towards the study.
And at this very moment, Xiao Yunlong had already arrived at the Celestial Strategy Mansion, a mansion of extreme significance to him!