The Dragon Lady left.
The scene returned to calm.
Ye Wudi scrambled up from the ground, rushing to Ye Wushuang’s side, excitedly asking, “Big Brother, where have you been all these years?”
“Do you know how worried I’ve been about you?”
“And all these years, Father has been secretly searching for you.”
Ye Qiu, equally stirred, stepped towards Ye Wushuang.
At that moment, Ye Wushuang’s stern voice rang out: “Ye Wudi, kneel!”
Thud!
Ye Wudi dropped to his knees.
Ye Wushuang reprimanded, “Ye Wudi, as a member of the Ye family and Old Tang’s personal bodyguard, you’ve fallen for the Dragon Lady. What crime is this?”
Ye Wudi immediately apologised, “I’m sorry, Big Brother. I was wrong in this matter.”
“But love knows no borders, does it?”
Ye Wushuang snorted coldly, “To think, after more than twenty years out of the public eye, the Dragon Lady dares to challenge me, and even you’ve grown bold enough to talk back.”
Ye Wudi hurriedly clarified, “Big Brother, I didn’t mean to defy you. The Dragon Lady may have a temper, but I truly love her.”
Ye Wushuang snapped, “Love? What’s the use of love? Have you slept with her?”
Instantly, Ye Wudi’s face flushed red.
At the same time, he found it unbelievable. Twenty years ago, Ye Wushuang would never have spoken to him like this.
Where had Big Brother been these past twenty years? What had he gone through to change his temperament so much?
“Have you slept with her or not?” Ye Wushuang pressed.
Ye Wudi, red-faced, shook his head.
“Fool! You haven’t even slept with her, yet you’re ready to save her. I say you’ve been blinded by lust, your heart clouded by desire.”
Ye Wushuang’s gaze then fell on Ye Qiu, softening considerably. “How is your mother?”
Ye Qiu was so moved he nearly cried.
After more than twenty years, this was the first time he’d heard Ye Wushuang speak to him.
“My mother is well.”
Ye Qiu suppressed his excitement, striving to keep his tone calm.
“Kneel!” Ye Wushuang commanded Ye Qiu.
Without hesitation, Ye Qiu knelt.
Ye Wushuang scolded with a stern face, “Ye Qiu, you’ve let your mother down!”
“Your mother raised you through countless hardships. It hasn’t been easy for her all these years.”
“Now, though you’ve achieved some success, you spend less time with her. Do you think that’s right?”
Ye Qiu was astonished.
How did Father know about me and Mother?
Could it be that all these years, Father has been secretly protecting us?
Ye Qiu, ashamed, lowered his head. “I’ve neglected caring for Mother. I’ll make amends and spend more time with her.”
“That’s more like it.” Ye Wushuang waved his hand. “Both of you, stand.”
Ye Qiu and Ye Wudi rose to their feet.
Ye Qiu wanted to say more to Ye Wushuang, but Ye Wushuang raised a hand, silencing him.
Then, Ye Wushuang turned to Xiao Jiu, reprimanding him:
“Xiao Jiu, as the Commander of the Northern Territory, don’t you know the dangers of venturing alone?”
“If not for Ye Qiu and the others, you’d be dead.”
“I know you had your reasons, but have you considered what happens if you die? The Northern Territory would descend into chaos.”
“Then, could you face your brothers? The people of the Northern Territory? Old Tang’s trust in you?”
Xiao Jiu lowered his head deeply, sincerely admitting, “Senior, you’re right to chastise me. I was reckless. I won’t make the same mistake again.”
Ye Wushuang nodded slightly. “A teachable lad!”
His gaze then shifted to Qinglong.
Qinglong quickly lowered his head, sensing that Ye Wushuang was about to reprimand him.
As expected.
Ye Wushuang barked, “Qinglong, what business does a member of the Dragon Gate have meddling in Northern Territory affairs?”
“Cao Yuan was foolish to send you to rescue Xiao Jiu. If you died, who would protect Cao Yuan?”
“And after you left, what if someone assassinated Cao Yuan?”
Qinglong replied, “I was worried about His Excellency’s safety, but he ordered me to come, so I had to.”
“Foolish!” Ye Wushuang said. “Cao Yuan isn’t an emperor, and his words aren’t imperial decrees. Why must you obey him unquestioningly?”
“If he told you to eat dung, would you?”
Qinglong’s face flushed red, but he dared not argue with Ye Wushuang.
Ye Wushuang continued, “I’m not saying you shouldn’t listen to Cao Yuan. As a member of the Dragon Gate, you naturally follow his orders.”
“What I mean is, sometimes you can listen to Cao Yuan, and sometimes you don’t have to.”
“For instance, this time, when Cao Yuan sent you to the Northern Territory, you shouldn’t have obeyed.”
“Because your primary duty is to ensure Cao Yuan’s safety.”
“Cao Yuan built the Dragon Gate with great effort. In a short time, it swept through over a dozen provinces, making many enemies. Plenty of people want Cao Yuan dead.”
“And that Witch God Sect sees Cao Yuan as a thorn in their side, always watching him.”
“Think about it—without you by Cao Yuan’s side, how dangerous is his situation?”
Doubts arose in Qinglong’s mind.
How did Ye Wushuang know so much about the Dragon Gate?
Could it be that Ye Wushuang has been secretly monitoring the Dragon Gate?
It must be so!
Not only the Dragon Gate but also Xiao Jiu—otherwise, Ye Wushuang wouldn’t have appeared so timely this time.
Qinglong said, “I’ll return immediately to protect His Excellency.”
“Good that you understand. My words weren’t wasted on you.” Ye Wushuang’s gaze then fell on Qilin.
Unlike Qinglong, Qilin didn’t lower his head but looked at Ye Wushuang with fervent admiration.
“Young man, you’re not bad.”
Ye Wushuang said, “Though your skills are lacking, your courage is commendable.”
“For daring to go to a neighbouring country to rescue Xiao Jiu, I’ll say this: I admire you.”
“Senior, do you mean it?” Qilin was overjoyed.
In his eyes, Ye Wushuang was a godlike figure.
To earn Ye Wushuang’s admiration was, for Qilin, more thrilling than winning a billion in the lottery.
“Of course I mean it. I’m inclined to teach you a move or two,” Ye Wushuang said.
What? Senior Ye wants to teach me martial arts?
Qilin, overwhelmed with excitement, knelt and said, “Please, Senior, take me as your disciple.”
Bang, bang, bang!
Qilin kowtowed three times to Ye Wushuang.
“Hahaha…” Ye Wushuang laughed heartily, but as he laughed, blood trickled from his mouth.
Ye Wudi asked in alarm, “Big Brother, are you injured?”
“Idiot, to think you still believe I’m your Big Brother, hahaha…” Ye Wushuang laughed skyward.
Ye Wudi was stunned. “You’re not my Big Brother? Then who are you?”
“Ye Wushuang” raised his head, gazing at the heavens, and declared loudly, “At the pinnacle of the Dao, standing proud over the world, only with my Longbrow does the sky exist!”
