The 29th of the lunar twelfth month.
Eight in the morning.
Jiangzhou High-Speed Rail Station.
Ye Qiu hugged and bid farewell to Qian Jinglan, Lin Jingzhi, Bai Bing, Qin Wan, Su Luoying, Su Xiaoxiao, and Xiao Yiren one by one.
Dragon King, Zhao Yun, and colleagues from the Chinese Medicine Department also came to see him off.
The parting was heart-wrenching.
“Boss, it’s about time. We need to board,” Xiao Zhan reminded.
This time, Xiao Zhan was accompanying Ye Qiu to the capital.
He carried a suitcase containing two items: the Emperor’s Sword Chixiao and a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu.
“Got it,” Ye Qiu said, stepping forward to hug Qian Jinglan. “Mom, take care.”
“Go, and come back soon,” she replied softly.
Ye Qiu nodded, then hugged Lin Jingzhi. “Sister Lin, I’m entrusting everything at home to you.”
She smiled, showing no trace of sadness. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it.”
His gaze swept over everyone’s faces, then he bowed deeply to them.
Ten seconds later, he turned and walked into the station.
At that moment, Bai Bing and the others could no longer hold back, tears streaming down their faces.
Hearing the sobs behind him, Ye Qiu’s heart ached, and he paused.
As he was about to turn back, Lin Jingzhi’s scolding voice rang out.
“Stop crying.”
“If you’re not embarrassed, I am.”
“Everyone, go home.”
“Auntie, let’s go.”
Lin Jingzhi took Qian Jinglan to her car. Once the door closed, she collapsed into Qian Jinglan’s arms, sobbing. “Auntie, I’m scared Ye Qiu won’t come back.”
She had only pretended to be strong to keep Ye Qiu from worrying.
Qian Jinglan held her, tears in her eyes. “Child, don’t worry. Qiu’er will return.”
“He won’t abandon us.”
“He’ll come back!”
Five hours later, the high-speed train arrived in the capital.
As Ye Qiu and Xiao Zhan exited the station, they saw two cars waiting.
A black Mercedes with Qilin standing beside it.
A red Hongqi sedan with a special license plate, next to which stood Ye Wudi.
Ye Qiu knew they were there to pick him up.
Sure enough, as he appeared, Qilin approached. “Sect Master, Zhuque sent me to get you.”
Ye Wudi followed. “Grandpa asked me to fetch you. Are you going home with me first or to Dragon Gate?”
Ye Qiu replied, “Third Uncle, please tell Grandpa I’ll come by tonight. I’m heading to Dragon Gate to handle some matters now.”
“Alright,” Ye Wudi said干脆ly, getting into his car and leaving.
Ye Qiu and Xiao Zhan got into Qilin’s car.
Half an hour later, the car stopped at a courtyard house.
Ye Qiu stepped out, scanning the area, noticing several overt and covert sentries around.
“Is this Dragon Gate’s headquarters?” he asked.
“Sort of. Nine Thousand Years used to live here,” Qilin said, leading him through the gate.
Cao Qingcheng, Qinglong, and Zhao Hu were in the courtyard. Seeing Ye Qiu, they stood and greeted, “Sect Master!”
Ye Qiu smiled. “No need for formalities. Sit.”
Zhao Hu pulled a chair for him, and Ye Qiu sat, asking Cao Qingcheng, “Everything arranged?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “I’ve secretly mobilized three thousand Dragon Gate disciples. If anything happens to you, I’ll lead them out of the capital immediately.”
“I’ve also arranged a private plane in Jiangzhou, ready to pick up your mother and Lin Jingzhi’s group anytime.”
“I sent over a dozen disciples to Dadong to be ready to escort Qianshan Xue.”
Ye Qiu praised, “Well done.”
Cao Qingcheng added, “Tomorrow night, when you go to the Forbidden City, I’ve arranged for Qinglong, Qilin, and Zhao Hu to go with you.”
“I’ve also mobilized eighty thousand Dragon Gate brothers. They’ll all arrive in the capital by noon tomorrow.”
“The Forbidden City’s people are strong, but we have numbers.”
“If you can’t hold out, our eighty thousand brothers can charge in. With so many, even a single spit from each could drown Dragon One.”
Ye Qiu shook his head. “Send the brothers back.”
“Why?” Cao Qingcheng asked, confused.
“They’re not just our brothers—they “
“They’re not just our brothers—they’re fathers, husbands, and sons. They can’t die for my sake.”
“Send them back to wherever they came from.”
“For tomorrow night’s battle, I have my own plans.”
“As for you three—Qinglong, Qilin, Zhao Hu—don’t come with me to the Forbidden City. Leave the capital with Qingcheng.”
“And take Xiao Zhan with you.”
“You’re my most trusted people. If something happens to me, Dragon Gate will depend on you.”
Cao Qingcheng said, “But that leaves you with little chance of survival.”
Ye Qiu smiled, “Don’t worry. I won’t be alone tomorrow night. The War God, the Ye family, Dragon Tiger Mountain, and Tianlong Temple will stand with me.”
“Besides, my cultivation has improved a lot during this seclusion.”
“The Forbidden City won’t find it easy to kill me.”
Cao Qingcheng stared at him for a few seconds, bit her lip, and said, “Fine, have it your way.”
Ye Qiu took out the Sect Master’s token and handed it to her. “Keep this for now.”
“If I don’t return tomorrow night, you’ll be the master of Dragon Gate from then on.”
“Qinglong, Qilin, Zhao Hu, and Hanlong in Miaojiang—you Dragon Envoys must support Qingcheng.”
“Work together to make Dragon Gate stronger.”
The group immediately pledged, “Sect Master, rest assured, we’ll support Zhuque.”
Ye Qiu asked Cao Qingcheng, “Is lunch ready? Xiao Zhan and I haven’t eaten.”
“Already prepared, just waiting for you,” she replied.
Ye Qiu laughed, “It’s rare to gather like this. Let’s drink to our heart’s content today.”
They moved to the dining room, where a round table was laden with dishes.
The group ate together.
It wasn’t until four in the afternoon that the meal ended.
Qinglong, Qilin, Zhao Hu, and Xiao Zhan were all drunk under Ye Qiu’s toasts.
Cao Qingcheng, having drunk plenty herself, her beautiful face flushed like peach blossoms, her eyes hazy, took Ye Qiu’s hand. “Come with me.”
They went to the back courtyard and entered a room.
Ye Qiu glanced around, noting the cozy, fragrant decor—clearly a woman’s boudoir.
“Qingcheng, why’d you bring me here?” he asked, puzzled.
“Naturally, to…” Cao Qingcheng pushed him down, adding one word.
“You~”
