Chapter 13

In the car.

Ye Qiu said, "Mom, I'm sorry for making you suffer today."

"You silly child, what are you talking about?" Qian Jinglan said, "You encountered so many things at the hospital and kept them from me. If I hadn't gone to the hospital today, how long did you plan to keep it from me?"

"I just didn't want you to worry."

"Listen to my advice, don't push yourself. If you can't handle it at this hospital, then find another one. As for Zhang Lili, she has changed, no longer the kind girl she used to be. It's better to break up."

"Okay."

"I'm sure Mr. Zhao has something important to discuss with you, so I won't keep you. I'll get off here."

After the car stopped, Ye Qiu helped Qian Jinglan out of the car.

"Mr. Zhao, thank you for your trouble today," Qian Jinglan said politely.

"Auntie, there's no need for such formalities, it's nothing," Zhao Yun replied politely.

Qian Jinglan then instructed Ye Qiu, "Come back early. I'll wait for you to have dinner at home. I'll make your favorite Mapo Tofu today."

"Got it."

After the car started, Ye Qiu said somewhat embarrassedly, "My mom is like that, a bit nagging. I'm sorry, Mr. Zhao, for making you see this side of her."

"It's fine."

Fine?

Ye Qiu looked at Zhao Yun with confusion.

The latter remained silent, focusing on driving.

The silence continued.

The atmosphere in the car was somewhat oppressive.

Ye Qiu tried to speak several times but held back.

After about twenty minutes, Zhao Yun suddenly said, "Doctor Ye, I'm sure you have many questions, right?"

"Yes," Ye Qiu didn't deny it.

"Ask whatever you want. I'll tell you anything I can."

"Who is the Dragon King?" Ye Qiu asked directly.

This question had been on his mind the whole time.

"The Dragon King is the king of Jiangzhou's underworld! He was once a Tiger List expert!" Zhao Yun continued, "Actually, you've already met the Dragon King."

"Is it the old man in the Tang suit who was with you yesterday?" Ye Qiu asked.

"Yes."

It was him!

When Ye Qiu met the old man in the Tang suit yesterday, he felt that the old man wasn't an ordinary person. Now it seemed his guess was correct.

"Is Dragon King his real name?" Ye Qiu asked again.

"No, it's just a title," Zhao Yun said. "The Dragon King's real name is Long Qianqiu. He is known as the Dragon King in the underworld."

I see.

"May I ask, what is your relationship with the Dragon King, Mr. Zhao?" Ye Qiu was curious about Zhao Yun's identity.

"I am the Dragon King's personal bodyguard."

"Then you must be very skilled in martial arts, right?"

Zhao Yun smiled but didn't answer.

The car drove into the city center and then entered a quiet mountain road. Ye Qiu looked out the window and asked, "Are we going to Yunwu Mountain?"

"Yes, the Dragon King lives on Yunwu Mountain."

Ye Qiu was shocked.

In the center of Jiangzhou, there is a mountain peak with an altitude of 500 meters called Yunwu Mountain. The scenery is beautiful and the environment is pleasant.

In the early days of the founding of the country, it was a park. Later, it was developed into a top-tier wealthy area, and only the top elites of Jiangzhou have the right to live on Yunwu Mountain.

Fifteen minutes later.

A series of exquisite villas with Chinese style appeared in Ye Qiu's line of sight, scattered among the lush trees, peaceful and distant.

The car continued to drive to the top of the mountain and finally stopped in front of an ancient and elegant villa.

"Doctor Ye, we're here," Zhao Yun said.

Ye Qiu nodded and got out of the car, seeing four guards standing at the entrance of the villa, all of them lean and sharp-eyed.

The aura of these four guards was similar to Zhao Yun's, but weaker.

"Brother Zhao!"

Seeing Zhao Yun, the four guards respectfully called out.

"This is Ye Qiu, a guest invited by the Dragon King," Zhao Yun pointed to Ye Qiu.

The four guards glanced at Ye Qiu and quickly moved aside.

"Doctor Ye, please follow me," Zhao Yun led the way.

Ye Qiu stepped through the gate and saw a courtyard covering several hundred square meters, with pavilions, ponds, and artificial hills, and various rare flowers and plants, giving it a bit of a mountain retreat feel.

In the middle of the courtyard stood a thick and sturdy wutong tree, at least a hundred years old, with lush branches and leaves.

Under the tree was a stone table.

A sheet of Xuan paper was laid on the stone table.

The Dragon King was practicing calligraphy.

"When the Dragon King practices calligraphy, he doesn't like to be disturbed. Walk lightly," Zhao Yun whispered as a reminder.

Ye Qiu nodded.

The two walked to the Dragon King's side, and Ye Qiu leaned in to look. On the Xuan paper were a few lines of text:

"To accomplish the king's great cause, to win fame both in life and after death. Alas, my hair has turned white."

The brush strokes were powerful and forceful, with a fierce and invincible aura leaping off the paper.

"The calligraphy is good, but..."

Ye Qiu suddenly spoke up.

"But what?" the Dragon King asked calmly.

"But the aura of killing is too strong."

Snap!

The Dragon King threw down his brush, looked up, and his gaze fell on Ye Qiu.

Instantly.

Ye Qiu felt as if he was being stared at by a world-class predator, his hair standing on end.

Seeing this, Zhao Yun quickly said, "Ye Qiu, quickly apologize to the Dragon King."

"Do you understand calligraphy?" the Dragon King asked before Ye Qiu could apologize.

"A little bit."

In the legacy of the Ye family's ancestors, there was a lot of knowledge about calligraphy.

"Do you think the aura of killing is too strong because my state of mind when writing was wrong?" the Dragon King asked again.

Ye Qiu had to muster his courage and said, "The author of this poem is Xin Qiji, a famous Southern Song general who strongly advocated the recovery of the Central Plains but was excluded and suppressed, and was out of office for nearly twenty years."

"This poem was written by Xin Qiji during his idle time in Xinzhou when he was out of favor."

"In the poem, he expressed his desire to kill the enemy and serve the country, and to establish a name. However, the line 'Alas, my hair has turned white' expresses Xin Qiji's frustration, pain, and anger at being unable to serve his country and having no way to vent his feelings!"

"The calligraphy you wrote, with its powerful and forceful strokes, is full of a fierce and invincible aura, which is completely opposite to the author's state of mind. However, it is filled with a majestic and overwhelming spirit, which reminds me of a line from Cao Cao's poem: 'An old steed in the stable still dreams of traveling a thousand miles; a hero in his twilight years still has unyielding aspirations.'"

The Dragon King stared at Ye Qiu, his eyes deep and profound, saying nothing, but the overwhelming aura still lingered around him.

Ye Qiu was extremely nervous, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

After two minutes, the Dragon King suddenly burst into laughter and said, "Ye Qiu, you're quite impressive."

Hearing this, Ye Qiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, the Dragon King asked kindly, "Ye Qiu, I asked Zhao Yun to invite you. Did I disturb your work?"

"No."

"That's good." The Dragon King's face turned serious again, and he said solemnly, "Ye Qiu, I asked you to come here because I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?" Ye Qiu asked.

"I want you to help me with my illness. I'm dying," the Dragon King said.