Chapter 75

"Where are you going?"

Hearing the voice, Zhao Yun looked up and saw four strangers walk in from the door.

The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. He had a fair complexion and no beard, dressed in a green robe, with a jade hairpin holding his hair, looking like an ancient person.

Behind the middle-aged man were three robust young men, all around thirty years old.

"Who are you?" Zhao Yun asked, "How did you get in?"

"The front door was open, so we naturally walked in from outside."

Impossible!

There were guards at the villa's entrance. If these people had come in from outside, they would have been stopped by the guards.

Could he be lying?

Zhao Yun carefully examined the middle-aged man again and noticed that he always had a faint smile on his face, not like someone who was lying.

So, there was only one possibility.

The guards tried to stop them but failed.

Zhao Yun quickly pulled Xiaohu behind him, looking cautiously at the middle-aged man and asked, "Who are you really?"

The middle-aged man smiled and said, "I am Cao Yuan."

Cao Yuan?

This name seemed familiar. Just as Zhao Yun was about to speak, a sound came from behind him. Turning around, he saw Longwang kneeling on the ground, shouting loudly, "Greetings, Your Excellency! I did not know Your Excellency would visit, and I failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me, Your Excellency!"

Your Excellency? Is this man Your Excellency?

Zhao Yun looked at the middle-aged man in shock, his face pale.

"Zhao Yun, kneel down quickly," Longwang shouted.

Thud—

Zhao Yun hurriedly knelt on the ground and said respectfully, "I welcome Your Excellency."

"Longwang, you don't need to bow so deeply. To be honest, I am younger than you, so I should be the one to bow to you," Cao Yuan quickly walked over and helped Longwang up, smiling, "I came uninvited, did I disturb you?"

"Your Excellency, it is my honor to have you visit my humble abode," Longwang said nervously.

Cao Yuan smiled and said to Zhao Yun, "You can stand up too."

"Yes." Zhao Yun stood up.

Then, Cao Yuan's gaze fell on Xiaohu, and he waved, saying, "Little boy, come here, let me hold you."

Xiaohu, being a child, didn't understand the complexities of adult matters and walked over.

Cao Yuan picked up Xiaohu and said with a smile, "This child looks good, with clear eyes and a fine face. I wonder if I will have the chance to hold him again."

Hearing this, Longwang's face changed drastically, and he knelt down, saying, "Your Excellency, Xiaohu is just a child. Please spare him. I am willing to bring my brothers in Jiangzhou and join the Longmen."

"Longwang, what do you mean? As the leader of the Longmen, would I harm a child?" Cao Yuan smiled and asked Xiaohu, "Little boy, where are you going to play with Uncle Zhao Yun?"

"Going abroad..."

"Xiaohu!" Zhao Yun quickly interrupted, glaring at Xiaohu and said, "Don't speak rashly in front of Your Excellency."

Cao Yuan smiled and asked Xiaohu again, "Which country are you going to? Let me guess, America? Switzerland? Or Dadao? None of these, it must be Australia."

"How do you know we are going to Australia?" Xiaohu's young face was full of confusion.

Cao Yuan glanced at Longwang and smiled at Xiaohu, "There are some things I know, but I just don't bother to check. Once I start checking, nothing can be hidden from me."

Hearing this, Longwang's heart was filled with shock.

The Australian estate was purchased through secret channels by someone he had entrusted over a decade ago, and it was very well hidden. Longwang had only told Zhao Yun about it yesterday and had never mentioned it to anyone else before.

He never expected that Your Excellency would find out.

In an instant, cold sweat soaked his back.

"Your Excellency, to be honest, I wanted to send my grandson abroad," Longwang confessed.

"Why? Have you done something to betray me?" Cao Yuan's smile remained, but his voice was cold.

"No," Longwang raised his head and looked directly into Cao Yuan's eyes, "Your Excellency, I can swear to the heavens in front of you that I have never betrayed you."

Cao Yuan stared into Longwang's eyes for a full minute before asking, "Then why are you sending your grandson away?"

Longwang said with a bitter face, "I have offended someone, and I am afraid they will seek revenge."

"Are you referring to Xiao Qingdi?"

"Yes," Longwang said, "Young Master Xiao was severely injured, and he will not let me off."

"If something happened on my territory, do you think I would let you off?"

Cao Yuan's smile suddenly disappeared, and the air in the courtyard seemed to freeze.

"Your Excellency, I had no knowledge of this matter, but since it happened in Jiangzhou, I cannot shirk responsibility. Whatever you decide to do with me, I will accept it," Longwang said.

"Very well," Cao Yuan said, "Xiao Qingdi delivered a message for me, but you conspired with others to kill his servants and injure him. That is your first crime."

"Last night, several of my subordinates lost their lives protecting me, and my adopted son almost died. As the leader of the underground forces in Jiangzhou, you have failed to maintain order, and you cannot escape blame. That is your second crime."

"Given these two points, I demand your head. Do you accept?"

"I accept," Longwang pleaded, "I only hope that Your Excellency will spare my grandson and Zhao Yun..."

"Rest assured, we have a rule that the family is not punished for the crimes of the individual. I understand."

Longwang's face showed gratitude, and he said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Excellency. May you have boundless good fortune and soon unify the world."

"Longwang, may you rest in peace." Cao Yuan finished speaking, and one of the young men behind him stepped forward, holding a dagger.

Seeing this, Zhao Yun was shocked and quickly knelt on the ground, saying, "Your Excellency, can you spare Longwang's life? I am willing to exchange my life for his."

"Ridiculous! How dare you speak in front of Your Excellency? Get out," Longwang shouted sternly.

"Your Excellency, I beg you."

Bang, bang, bang!

Zhao Yun kept bowing to Cao Yuan, and soon his forehead was covered in blood.

Cao Yuan's eyes showed appreciation as he looked at Zhao Yun and said, "In our line of work, we put fame and profit aside and place righteousness at the center. You are willing to die for your master, and I must admit, I admire you, but I cannot grant your request."

"Why?" Zhao Yun looked at Cao Yuan in confusion.

Cao Yuan said, "Although I have killed many people, I do not kill the innocent. You are not guilty, so I cannot kill you. Otherwise, how would the world see me?"

"Furthermore, if I agree to your request today, then tomorrow when someone else commits a crime, they might use the same method to exchange one life for another. Should I agree or not?"

"If I agree, the rules of the Longmen will become meaningless, as anyone can find someone to take the blame. But if I don't agree, the brothers will say I am unfair, given your example."

"Therefore, I cannot agree to your request. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Zhao Yun nodded sadly.

"Kill!" Cao Yuan covered Xiaohu's eyes, and the young man with the dagger stabbed Longwang in the throat...

[Author's Note]

I have been very busy these past few days, but I will update more soon.