Chapter 110: Old Friends

Chapter 110: Old Friends

Qiu Yan stood before Xu Yun, her murderous aura fierce and unyielding. The two figures lurking in the darkness opposite them seemed completely unprepared for this sudden turn of events.

Ma Weibi, recently saved, had believed that with their combined strength, they could escape this danger. But now, unexpectedly, someone had appeared who could block the full force of Qinglong’s Hell刺 strike.

If this opponent was a combination of a supreme expert and a first-rate master, then the two of them faced certain death here, with no chance of escape.

Regret filled Ma Weibi’s heart—she should never have ignored Qinglong’s warnings. Now that such a huge problem had been stirred up, and Qinglong himself dragged into it, if anything were to go wrong, she would be burdened with unbearable guilt even in death.

The young man wielding the dagger was equally shocked. He knew very well that anyone capable of dodging and blocking his full-power strike was no ordinary adversary.

“You must leave Hedong City immediately,” he whispered to Ma Weibi. “I will do my best to hold them off.”

Though his voice was low, it brimmed with an irresistible authority.

He hadn’t expected his new partner’s first mission to bring such chaos. He had repeatedly warned her not to act rashly, that once he uncovered any information about Red Scorpion, they would join forces to eliminate the threat.

But before they could even find Red Scorpion, they had already encountered two other formidable masters—each immensely powerful and domineering.

“You’re no match for them alone!” Ma Weibi insisted, refusing outright. “If you leave, we leave together.”

Qiu Yan’s voice was cold and resolute: “None of you will escape!”

Her urgency was palpable. Who could rival Qiu Yan? Two top-tier masters had mysteriously appeared at the entrance of the herbal cuisine shop—who knew whether they were allied with Red Scorpion? Under such immense pressure, Qiu Yan thought only of swift execution.

The young man and Ma Weibi both tensed. The youth gripped his Autumn Water dagger tightly, his gaze sharp as lightning as it swept toward Qiu Yan’s soft sword. He whispered in astonishment, “Longyuan!”

Ma Weibi’s heart skipped a beat. Eyes wide, she stared at Qiu Yan and murmured, “Could she be the infamous Violent Fox Lord of the underground world...?”

“Who else but the Fox Lord would wield the Longyuan soft sword?” the youth said coldly. This battle would indeed be a challenge. Among their two opponents, even the weaker one was a terrifying Violent Fox Lord—who knew how much more fearsome the other might be?

None of the three tense figures had anticipated this.

A hearty laugh came from Xu Yun’s mouth: “Hahaha! Not bad, kid, you even know Longyuan.”

The youth’s previously tense expression suddenly shifted to astonishment; his lower lip trembled. That laughter was so familiar.

Qiu Yan’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked at Xu Yun in puzzlement. Could they know each other? Yet the youth’s ruthless attack moments ago had been clearly meant to kill, showing no mercy.

Ma Weibi was even more astonished. The scruffy man who had also behaved inappropriately toward her had just called Qinglong “kid.” What was their relationship? Her mind was a tangled mess with no clues.

“Looks like you’ve finally mastered the short blade Autumn Water and are handling it like a fish in water. That Hell刺 strike earlier really scared me,” Xu Yun said with a grin. “Qinglong, you’ve improved a lot.”

The youth’s expression changed from surprise to tears of joy. The towering man, standing at 1.85 meters, suddenly had reddened eyes and sniffled, voice full of grievance and disbelief: “Boss...?”

When Xu Yun heard from Qin Wan’er that special forces would be involved in dealing with Red Scorpion, he had suspected they might be from Long Nu, but it was only a hope. He never expected to actually run into Qinglong.

Xu Yun smiled faintly: “Hmm, looks like you haven’t forgotten me.”

Qian Feng, codename Qinglong, was a member of the Long Nu Special Operations Team and one of Xu Yun’s former subordinates.

“Boss, it really is you!?” Qian Feng could hardly believe his eyes. He stepped forward and grabbed Xu Yun’s shoulders with full strength. “We’ve all missed you so much, Boss! How did you end up here?”

Ma Weibi’s brows knitted tightly. Hearing Qian Feng call him “Boss” repeatedly, she quickly realized who this man before her truly was. Could he be the legendary figure of the Long Nu Special Operations Team—the captain and medic, former instructor, Yanlong—Xu Yun?

Crack!

The towering and imposing image Ma Weibi had imagined shattered instantly. She had always pictured the legendary Yanlong as a seven-foot-tall, bull-like powerhouse. It never occurred to her that he would look so unimpressive.

Truly, one cannot judge a man by his appearance. Ma Weibi gasped inwardly. This unremarkable man was actually a supreme expert who could manipulate true energy. No wonder the Long Nu team held him in such high regard.

Qiu Yan’s curious gaze remained fixed on Xu Yun.

Xu Yun smiled gently: “My friend won’t harm Guoguo.”

Qiu Yan nodded in acknowledgment, lightly tapping the ground with her toes before leaping up to the window ledge of the herbal cuisine shop’s second floor—a shortcut they had grown accustomed to using at night.

Watching Qiu Yan turn and leave, Qian Feng frowned: “Boss, why are you living with such dangerous people?”

“That’s a long story. Want to find a place for a drink?” Xu Yun raised an eyebrow. Not far from the herbal cuisine shop was a bar.

“Sure!” Qian Feng would never refuse. His fondest memories were of times when the boss took him and Yinlong on missions, and the three would slack off together, heading to bars to enjoy the company of beautiful women.

Xu Yun smirked behind Qian Feng’s back: “Wow, doing well for yourself—going out with a girl? Is the treatment in that hellhole really that good now?”

Qian Feng was taken aback, suddenly remembering the woman behind him, Fan Shuang’er. His ecstatic expression turned into a bitter smile: “Boss, she’s a newcomer to Long Nu—Fan Shuang’er.”

Fan Shuang’er had taken over the title “Yinlong,” which had belonged to Xu Yun’s fallen comrade. Qian Feng dared not mention the title, fearing it might stir painful memories for Xu Yun.

He knew well that Xu Yun had left Long Nu because he couldn’t overcome the mental torment caused by Yinlong’s death. Whenever that torment flared, Xu Yun became utterly ruthless, with only Wang Yi able to calm him.

“It’s Yinlong, isn’t it?” Xu Yun smiled gently, calm and composed.

Qian Feng was startled. He remembered the last time anyone mentioned Yinlong—the mental torment had nearly driven Xu Yun to commit an irreparable mistake. If not for that incident, he might never have left Long Nu for a place like this.

Fan Shuang’er didn’t flinch, neither denying nor affirming: “Yes, I am Yinlong.”

Xu Yun chuckled softly. Since the battle with Red Scorpion, his torment had not destroyed him but instead helped him break through his mental barriers. He was no longer the man he was a year ago, no longer furious over Yinlong’s fate.

“Don’t speak recklessly!” Qian Feng snapped at Fan Shuang’er.

Fan Shuang’er was taken aback, not understanding.

“It’s fine. I’m alright now,” Xu Yun smiled faintly. “Let’s go. Since you’re Long Nu, you surely can’t resist a drink, right? Join me.”

Fan Shuang’er frowned. This legendary captain shared Qinglong’s temperament, and she really couldn’t stand men who drank.

Qian Feng had dreamed of this moment countless times, excitement written all over his face: “Let’s go! Boss, I’ve missed you so much. Tonight, we drink till we drop!”

“Qinglong,” Fan Shuang’er suddenly interjected, “don’t forget why we’re here!”

Qian Feng was slightly annoyed, defending himself: “I know, but the boss asked me to drink with him. How can I refuse an order?”

Fan Shuang’er snorted coldly: “Qian Feng, you better understand what an order really is! The instructor who assigned this mission is Yinglong!”

“He’s nothing!” Qian Feng spat. “If it weren’t for the boss leaving, Yinglong would never have been the Long Nu instructor!”

Xu Yun smiled faintly. A year had passed, and Yinglong still couldn’t command respect?

“I’m telling you, Fan Shuang’er, whether you’re a newcomer or not, the boss of Long Nu will always be Yanlong, even if he’s gone!” Qian Feng declared passionately. “As long as he’s alive, no one else has the right to command me!”

Fan Shuang’er hadn’t expected such stubbornness and flushed with anger: “You’re twisting the truth! You keep calling him boss, but he’s no longer part of Long Nu! You have no obligation to obey him. This is your final warning—we have a mission, not a vacation!”

Qian Feng was as stubborn as a mule. Even if Fan Shuang’er reported him and he got confined for a month, he wouldn’t miss drinking with Xu Yun. He was too curious why the boss was in a place like Hedong City.

He believed no brother from Long Nu would miss this chance. Hey, Qian Feng had to toast with the boss and get a photo to make the others jealous.

“You’re here for Red Scorpion, right?” Xu Yun glanced at Fan Shuang’er indifferently. “I’ve already crossed swords with him.”

Fan Shuang’er was stunned, staring incredulously at Xu Yun.

Qinglong Qian Feng quickly put away his casual demeanor and frowned: “Where is he then?”

Xu Yun played coy: “After we’ve had a good drink, I’ll tell you.”

Qian Feng smiled knowingly: “Alright! A drink it is!”

“So, are you going for the mission or not?” Xu Yun looked at the serious Fan Shuang’er with a teasing tone. “You may have inherited the Yinlong title, but you haven’t inherited Yinlong’s rebellious spirit. You’re surprisingly obedient. Hah, back then, that bastard Yinlong didn’t even listen to me. If Long Nu people don’t have their own temper, then they don’t deserve the name Long Nu.”

Fan Shuang’er gritted her teeth: “Of course I’m going!”

She wasn’t comfortable leaving Qian Feng alone. What if these two drunkards got foolish? She repeatedly reminded herself that she was only coming to gather intelligence on Red Scorpion, not for drinking.

Within the Long Nu Special Operations Team, drinking on missions was a serious violation. Fan Shuang’er believed this firmly.

What she didn’t know was that the very instructor who established this rule—Yanlong himself—was often confined for breaking it.

Xu Yun regretted not abolishing this inhumane rule after leaving Long Nu. He was certain future generations would curse it.