The moonless night was as dark as ink, yet the moon itself was bright.
Pan Chaofeng had initially intended to head towards the garage, but Xiao Yunlong stopped him.
"My Lord, what are you doing?" Pan Chaofeng couldn't help but ask.
Xiao Yunlong chuckled, "Since Commander Li San doesn't want a fourth person to know, wouldn't you announcing your departure by car in the middle of the night be like loudly telling everyone?"
Pan Chaofeng sighed, "Actually, my Lord, what I meant was, we first leave this villa compound, and then we leave the Eastern Domain Barracks. I know a small path that leads to that place in the back mountains."
Xiao Yunlong, however, shook his head. He suddenly grabbed Pan Chaofeng, and with a light movement, they were on the roof of the back courtyard.
"From now on, you just need to point me in the general direction!" Xiao Yunlong whispered.
Pan Chaofeng was inwardly astonished, thinking his Lord was being overly cautious. Nevertheless, he followed the instruction and pointed west.
In reality, it wasn't that Xiao Yunlong was being overly cautious. The situation was far more complicated than Pan Chaofeng imagined, or rather, Pan Chaofeng was unaware that the current Eastern Domain King was already under the control of the Grand Commander.
Xiao Yunlong could even imagine that the entire villa compound was surely crawling with the Grand Commander Wang Kezheng's informants. The moment he stepped out of the compound, he would undoubtedly alert the man.
Although Xiao Yunlong wasn't afraid of being followed, and he was fully confident in shaking off any pursuers, acting at this late hour, if Wang Kezheng became suspicious, it could pose a threat to the Eastern Domain King's safety.
Carrying Pan Chaofeng by the shoulder, Xiao Yunlong leaped lightly. The two of them instantly became a gust of wind, silently soaring away from the villa compound. Those secretly monitoring the surroundings of the villa naturally couldn't detect them, as their martial cultivation levels were not on the same plane as Xiao Yunlong's.
Following Pan Chaofeng's directions, Xiao Yunlong continued to fly, soon entering the depths of the back mountains.
"My Lord, that abandoned thatched hut is in the small valley ahead. Commander Li San should be there already!" Pan Chaofeng pointed to the narrow valley in front.
It was already past two in the morning. Even the full moon had disappeared into the dark clouds. The depths of the back mountains were pitch black, with only a faint yellow light emanating from the small valley ahead.
"Wait for me nearby!" Xiao Yunlong said, and his figure flashed, instantly arriving at the thatched hut in the narrow valley.
The thatched hut was indeed abandoned, consisting of only two rooms. It was unclear if they were built by mountain dwellers who came to chop wood in the past, or by Commander Li San and his men for convenience when fishing and hunting.
Through the dilapidated window, light indeed shone from within the hut. A burly man was sitting on an old wooden stool, the dim light falling on his face, making his full beard appear even denser and more disheveled.
This bearded man was none other than the Third Commander of the Eastern Domain Barracks, Li Guangfa!
Xiao Yunlong glanced around. The area was deserted. Li Guangfa hadn't even brought a personal guard. It seemed he was being very cautious. Xiao Yunlong then stepped inside.
The Third Commander Li Guangfa inside immediately stood up, bowed, and clasped his hands. "I am Li Guangfa, the Third Commander of the Eastern Domain Barracks. I pay my respects to His Highness the Zhenbei King!"
Xiao Yunlong was somewhat surprised that the man had revealed his identity right away. He nodded slightly, "No need for formalities. My current identity is merely a commoner!"
Li Guangfa straightened up and said firmly, "I don't care about external judgments, nor what the Imperial Capital thinks. But in my heart, you will always be the Zhenbei King, the faith of the Dragon Kingdom. To be honest, you are the person I admire most in my life!"
Xiao Yunlong didn't respond to his statement. At his position, especially after falling from high status more than eight months ago, he could no longer be swayed by a few flattering words and lose his direction.
"Speak, why did you summon me so late?" Xiao Yunlong found an old wooden stool and sat down.
Li Guangfa did not sit this time, standing respectfully beside Xiao Yunlong. "Your Highness the Northern King, you have already met His Highness the Eastern Domain King at tonight's Mid-Autumn Festival. Did you not notice anything unusual about His Highness the Eastern Domain King?"
"Unusual? What unusual?" Xiao Yunlong asked calmly.
Li Guangfa frowned inwardly and pondered, "So, Your Highness the Northern King did not notice anything amiss? I originally thought that with your intelligence and keen observation, you would have discovered something."
Xiao Yunlong did not answer him directly, but instead asked, "So, you have already discovered something is wrong with the former Eastern Domain King?"
After speaking, Xiao Yunlong raised his eyelids and looked at him quietly. Li Guangfa's frown deepened, and he fell into thought, unsure how to speak for a moment.
Seeing this, Xiao Yunlong said, "You must know that I haven't been in the Eastern Domain Barracks for long. Although I have many doubts, I don't understand things as well as you commanders. However, you should be clear about my character. My killing of Wu Shenyong and those Fusang ronin warriors, and even my clearing out the Fusang embassy in Shanghai, based on these, you should be able to see my principles and stance."
Li Guangfa nodded heavily upon hearing this. "Indeed, if it weren't for Your Highness the Northern King doing these few things, I wouldn't dare to seek you out tonight. Fine, since I trust you, I will tell you everything I know!"
"No rush, speak slowly. Sit down first!" Xiao Yunlong nodded slightly.
Li Guangfa did not sit, still standing respectfully. He said, "Your Highness the Northern King, I do indeed suspect His Highness the Eastern Domain King. I believe that the current Eastern Domain King has been controlled by the Grand Commander!"
"Oh? On what grounds? Do you have any evidence?" Xiao Yunlong looked at him meaningfully, but his expression remained unchanged.
Even though Xiao Yunlong already knew the Eastern Domain King was a fake, the matter was too significant. He would not rashly tell the other party. Who knew if this Li Guangfa was a spy deliberately sent by the Grand Commander to trick him into revealing information?
"I have no evidence, I only suspect it. Because the former Eastern Domain King was not like this. About two years ago, he seemed to have become a different person, indulging in alchemy and seeking immortality every day, completely handing over the affairs of the Eastern Domain Barracks to Grand Commander Wang Kezheng!"
Li Guangfa paused and then continued, "For the past two years, the Eastern Domain King has been obedient to the Grand Commander, which is completely abnormal. That's why I suspect something."
Xiao Yunlong chuckled, "This is merely your suspicion. Slandering a king without evidence, if I were to tell the former Eastern King what you said tonight, do you know what the consequences would be?"
Li Guangfa's face immediately changed upon hearing this. He wanted to explain but stammered, unable to speak for a moment.
"Don't worry. Since you've chosen to trust me, I won't go and report you to the former Eastern King!"
Xiao Yunlong straightened his body and asked, "Let's talk about Wang Kezheng. What do you think of him?"
"I don't think much of him. Of course, this is not me intentionally excluding or targeting him. The Grand Commander is indeed not very capable. Otherwise, the Second Commander wouldn't have been forced into retirement, and I wouldn't have had to choose to seek solace in mountains and rivers, fishing and hunting!" Li Guangfa said with a helpless expression.
"Tell me specifically how he is not capable." Xiao Yunlong asked.
Li Guangfa raised his thick eyebrows and said sternly, "Wang Kezheng, on the surface, is amiable and friendly, but in reality, he is arrogant, stubborn, and dictatorial. Especially in the past two years, with the Eastern Domain King not managing affairs and giving him full control of the Eastern Domain Barracks, the entire barracks has become a mess because of him!"
"By the way, Your Highness the Northern King, do you know why so many Fusang ronin warriors and martial artists have appeared in the barracks?"
"Why?" Xiao Yunlong asked.
"That's because Wang Kezheng is backed by the Wang family of Shanghai. The industries they operate are almost all involved in trade with Fusang. There are even rumors that this Wang family of Shanghai has been engaged in smuggling. Because Fusang holds evidence of the Wang family's illegal activities, Wang Kezheng has no choice but to tolerate the rampant presence of those Fusang warriors!"
Li Guangfa paused and then continued, "And that Jike Island, it is also said to be connected with Wang Kezheng!"
Xiao Yunlong subconsciously frowned and asked, "Do you have any evidence for what you've said?"
"No, these are just my suspicions. I don't have conclusive evidence yet. If I did, I would have already gone to the Imperial Capital to report him!" Li Guangfa said.
Xiao Yunlong smiled upon hearing this, "If what you say is true and you intend to report him to the Imperial Capital, I believe you would lose your life before you even entered the city gates."
"This..." Li Guangfa was stunned.
He suddenly remembered that the Highness before him had been ambushed in the capital more than eight months ago, nearly perishing. Although he didn't know how he escaped later, if someone of the Zhenbei King's caliber could be targeted, let alone a mere commander like himself.
"Your Highness the Northern King, although I have no evidence for what I said earlier, it is absolutely nine times out of ten true. I implore Your Highness the Northern King to investigate the truth and save the Eastern Domain Barracks!"
After speaking, Li Guangfa suddenly knelt on one knee and clasped his hands, saying loudly, "Your Highness the Northern King, a person of your extraordinary talent must have seen through the current situation of the entire Eastern Domain Barracks. If this continues, the Eastern Domain Barracks is bound to be destroyed, and the eastern region of the Dragon Kingdom will collapse. Therefore, I implore Your Highness the Zhenbei King, for the sake of the people of the Eastern Domain, for the sake of the Dragon Kingdom, to thoroughly investigate this matter!"
Xiao Yunlong straightened his body and said solemnly, "I promise you, I will investigate this matter. If Wang Kezheng has indeed acted so lawlessly as you say, I will surely cut him down. Of course, if I discover that you have merely slandered him, I will not let you off lightly either!"
"Good, with Your Highness the Northern King's word, I am relieved. If I have indeed slandered the Grand Commander, I will cut off my own head as an apology!" Li Guangfa said.
Xiao Yunlong nodded slightly and said, "Is there anything else? If not, you may withdraw!"
"No, then I shall take my leave!" Li Guangfa clasped his hands, turned, and left.
Just as he reached the doorway, Li Guangfa stopped, as if remembering something. "By the way, Your Highness the Northern King, there is something I don't know if I should say? It's about the Third Deputy Commander, Zhang Quanche."
"Zhang Quanche?" Xiao Yunlong's sword-like eyebrows twitched. He asked sternly, "Where is he now?"
Speaking of which, the reason he decided to come to the Eastern Domain Barracks was sparked by Zhang Quanche. If it weren't for this fellow, Xiao Yunlong might not have discovered the current abnormality and strangeness of this Eastern Domain King.
"Zhang Quanche is currently in the Grand Commander's office. He is being protected by Wang Kezheng." Li Guangfa said.
"In Wang Kezheng's office, are you sure?" Xiao Yunlong asked sternly.
"Absolutely certain. I wouldn't dare to hide anything from Your Highness the Northern King, because I have two informants within the Grand Commander's office, so there's no mistake!"
"Alright, I understand. You may withdraw!" Xiao Yunlong said softly.
Li Guangfa looked at Xiao Yunlong, perhaps trying to glean some information from his expression, but he could see nothing. This Zhenbei King remained inscrutable.
"Then I shall take my leave!" Li Guangfa said, and then stepped away, disappearing into the darkness.
Soon, Pan Chaofeng walked in and asked, "My Lord, what did Commander Li San say to you?"
"Nothing much. Let's go, it's very late. We'll talk about it back at the villa!" Xiao Yunlong patted his buttocks and stood up.
Pan Chaofeng immediately realized that his previous question was inappropriate. After all, some things were beyond his current understanding.
The two then left the dilapidated thatched hut and, under the cover of night, silently returned to the villa compound.
The night passed without incident. The next day, after dinner, Xiao Yunlong informed everyone that Zhang Quanche was in Grand Commander Wang Kezheng's office and that he intended to force his way in to retrieve him.
"My Lord, forcing our way in might be a bit inappropriate, don't you think?" Zhuge Wushuang asked in a low voice, frowning.
"Inappropriate? Zhang Quanche dared to assassinate me, he must die!" Xiao Yunlong said sternly.
Zhuge Wushuang leaned closer and whispered, "But my Lord, didn't you say last night that we shouldn't alert the enemy for now? Rushing directly into the Grand Commander's office to retrieve someone, isn't that..."
Xiao Yunlong smiled and said playfully, "Sometimes, when a snake is too cautious and stays coiled up, you have to poke it and startle it to make it reveal its flaws and weaknesses!"
"So that's how it is. Your subordinate understands." The intelligent Zhuge Wushuang immediately grasped his Lord's intention.
When the White Tiger General heard that they were going to force their way in, he became immediately excited and shouted, "I said long ago, just go for it! But my Lord, what if Wang Kezheng doesn't hand him over when we storm in?"
"Doesn't hand him over?" Xiao Yunlong snorted twice. "Then we reveal our identities. Zhang Quanche dared to assassinate me, which is a capital offense. If anyone dares to openly obstruct or harbor him, then kill them! Kill them all!"
"Good, excellent! With your words, my Lord, I am now confident. Today, I want to see who dares to stop me!" Tu Fu shouted loudly, his fists unconsciously clenched.
"Pan Chaofeng, Zhuge Ya, you two first take all your personal followers and surround the Grand Commander's office. Don't let a single fly escape!"
Xiao Yunlong commanded coldly, his eyes filled with killing intent.
Pan Chaofeng immediately accepted the order. Zhuge Ya originally hesitated, but seeing Xiao Yunlong's undisguised powerful pressure and killing intent, she could only brace herself and comply.
"Everyone, follow me to Wang Kezheng's office!" Xiao Yunlong waved his hand and strode out of the villa compound.