When the man in plain clothes saw Tang Long admit to it, a smile spread across his face. "Good, that means I've found the right person. I was sent to escort you somewhere."
Tang Long glanced at Captain Yu and his men, then looked back toward his home.
The man in plain clothes smiled. "If it's inconvenient, you can bring your family along."
Tang Long was overjoyed. "Yes, yes! I'll go with you right now."
He didn't know this man, and he had no idea where they were going. But right now, even if it were a dragon's lair or a tiger's den, he wouldn't hesitate. If he stayed here instead, these Border Defense Army soldiers would definitely kill his entire family. And Xiao Qing would certainly be dragged away to be tortured to death.
"Say, aren't you making a mistake here?" Captain Yu, the bald man, asked with a sinister voice.
"What mistake?" the man in plain clothes replied with a bland smile.
"We Border Defense Army men are apprehending a traitor. Who the hell are you, swaggering in like this? Believe it or not, I'll chop you down with one swing!" Behind Captain Yu, a stocky dwarf-like brute shouted aggressively.
The man in plain clothes chuckled. "I really don't believe it. And don't try to bluff me. The Border Defense Army can't conduct investigations inside the Royal Capital. Cases in the Royal Capital are the exclusive jurisdiction of the Dragon Tooth Guard. Even if the Border Defense Army wants to arrest someone, they have to go through the Dragon Tooth Guard."
"Bullshit! This is a special case handled under special circumstances! Who the hell are you? I told you to scram and you didn't—that means you're not going anywhere either!" The stocky brute brandished his Ghost Head Blade and roared savagely.
"Oh? You want to get physical?" the man in plain clothes said, a half-smile on his face.
Captain Yu, the bald and eyebrow-less leader, fixed his eyes on the man. "What exactly is your background? This Tang Long has a grudge against us. If you have business with him, shouldn't you respect the order of first come, first served?"
"Why are you lot so long-winded? This isn't the border. It's the Royal Capital. If you want to handle your case, go do it at the border. Spare me the nonsense—I don't have time for this."
"What arrogance!" Captain Yu's eyes flashed with menace. "So much arrogance that you don't even have any respect for us Border Defense Army. Then you're not leaving either!"
With a wave of his hand, the four men lined up and completely blocked the doorway.
The man in plain clothes had maintained an expression of indifference all along, showing no anger. But once those four men took up their formation, his face finally darkened. "So it really is throwing your weight around, bullying one with many?"
"That's right—we're throwing our weight around, bullying one with many. What are you going to do about it?"
"You don't have the guts, yet you want to stick your nose in? That's just asking for death!"
"If you've really got the guts, call more people and bring more backup for us to see! Throwing our weight around—that's exactly what we're throwing at you!"
The man in plain clothes was so furious he laughed. "Good, good, good!"
In one swift motion, he flicked his sleeve, and a rocket streaked into the sky—a burst of red flame shooting high into the air, trailing a plume of gray smoke.
"Oh no—this guy is calling for backup!"
"Kill them! Make it quick!"
Tang Long stepped in front of the man in plain clothes. "Sir, let me hold them off for a bit. You go inside first."
The man in plain clothes chuckled. "No rush, no rush. The real show is about to begin."
Captain Yu's face changed abruptly. "Who the hell are you?"
The man in plain clothes smiled leisurely, not even sparing the bald captain a glance. Instead, he looked up at the sky with a relaxed air. "Who am I? You'll find out soon enough."
Seeing this man so unperturbed, Captain Yu felt a jolt of shock. A terrifying premonition suddenly seized his heart.
Tchirp!
From the sky came a piercing cry.
Then—tchirp, tchirp, tchirp…
Countless sharp cries rang out, one after another, echoing through the air.
Captain Yu's hair stood on end as he whipped his head around. Above the Royal Capital, in the clear blue sky, dark figures were streaking toward them from every direction, converging from all sides.
"Huangyi Yalong?"
"You… You're with the Dragon Tooth Guard?"
In the span of several breaths, hundreds of Huangyi Yalong had arrived overhead, each one bristling with killing intent, hovering menacingly above.
"Captain Gu—is that you who summoned us?"
"Your subordinates greet Captain Gu!"
"Eleventh Small Division reporting in, all members present!"
The Dragon Tooth Guard soldiers all bowed and saluted toward the ground below.
The man in plain clothes gave a slight nod. "These four are from the Border Defense Army. They crossed jurisdictional lines to conduct an investigation, threatened their commanding officer, and claimed they would throw their weight around, bullying one with many. What do you all think about that?"
"The Border Defense Army? If the Border Defense Army isn't staying at the border, why are they causing trouble in the Royal Capital?"
"They even dared to threaten our Captain Gu?"
"Captain Gu, there's nothing to discuss. Arrest them. Execute!"