Chapter 111: The Dragon's Blade

Chapter 111: The Dragon’s Sharp Blade

The Dragon Fury Special Forces were the spearhead of the Divine Dragon Unit, China’s most elite military force. Every member possessed extraordinary abilities. Their identities were shrouded in secrecy; no one knew where they came from or what backgrounds they had. Some had even forgotten their own origins.

Everyone selected for the Divine Dragon Unit possessed exceptional physical foundations and extraordinary insight. Since childhood, they had also been trained by terrifyingly powerful masters. As a result, each of them was highly skilled.

Those who advanced from the Divine Dragon Unit into the Dragon Fury Special Forces were the best of the best. Xu Yun had broken through to the level of a second-rate master at a very young age, making him the youngest member of Dragon Fury. After reaching the level of a first-rate master at eighteen, he received guidance from Wang Yi, a grandmaster, and in only a year reached the peak of the ninth stage among first-rate masters. He was then promoted by special dispensation to become Dragon Fury’s captain.

That same year, Dragon Fury’s previous instructor resigned for health reasons. Wang Yi, the lieutenant general who commanded the Divine Dragon Unit, directly appointed Xu Yun as the new instructor. Though Xu Yun was still young, he was already considered a veteran within Dragon Fury. With his strength plainly evident, no one objected to his appointment.

Over the following years, the Dragon Fury Special Forces, under Xu Yun’s leadership, carried out more than a hundred difficult missions of every description. They returned victorious each time, earning the profound respect of the entire team. Xu Yun was also well versed in pharmacology and medicine; nearly everyone on the team who had suffered critical injuries had been personally dragged back from the gates of death by him. This further cemented his position within Dragon Fury.

After years of distinguished service, Xu Yun became the youngest major general in the Divine Dragon Unit, and Dragon Fury undisputedly became the sharpest blade in the entire force.

If the police leadership had not betrayed them during that mission, leaving them surrounded; if Silver Dragon had not died protecting Xu Yun; if Xu Yun had not flown into a rage and killed someone he had been expressly forbidden to kill… perhaps he would not have ended up in a small place like Hedong City.

Everyone in Dragon Fury thought Xu Yun had left simply to recuperate. None of them knew that he had been expelled from the Dragon Fury Special Forces because of that incident.

Xu Yun could remember only that, from the day he had become aware of the world, he had already been in that place. From childhood onward, all he had known was endless training and missions.

So when Xu Yun learned from his revered teacher, Wang Yi, that he had to leave, he did not argue. Perhaps leaving was not such a bad choice. At least, he could finally live for himself.

What Xu Yun had never expected was that, after leaving, he would actually miss that place with an almost masochistic intensity.

Only after his departure did Xu Yun realize that, having been used and betrayed, he still had to bear such consequences. For a time, he had been utterly disheartened. Had his mental strength not been formidable, he might have collapsed beneath the pressure and destroyed himself long ago.

Xu Yun had not realized that, without noticing, he had already been away from Dragon Fury for so long.

…

In a bar ablaze with dazzling lights and charged music, yet filled with the raucous din of voices, Qian Feng ordered two bottles of Chivas Regal. Without mixing the liquor with anything, he poured three glasses and looked at Xu Yun expectantly.

“Boss, when are you coming back?”

Xu Yun smiled faintly and said nothing. He lifted his glass and changed the subject. “Is everyone doing all right?”

Qian Feng nodded. His expression grew slightly troubled, but in the end he chose to tell Xu Yun.

“Mm… more or less. It’s just that Black Dragon was seriously wounded during a solo mission. He’s still lying in bed.”

Xu Yun’s brows drew tightly together. Black Dragon’s strength was unquestionably above the seventh stage of a first-rate master. How could he have been injured so easily?

“Who hurt him?”

“I don’t know either. He still can’t speak.” Afraid Xu Yun would worry, Qian Feng immediately added, “But we’re certain his life is no longer in danger.”

Fan Shuang’er merely listened in silence. She truly disliked this kind of noisy environment, as well as the drunken gazes of the men around them. They seemed almost eager to strip the clothes from her body with their eyes.

Xu Yun downed the entire glass of whisky in one gulp. His voice turned cold and severe.

“What kind of mission was it? If you knew it was dangerous, why didn’t you send more people? Was it arranged by Shadow Dragon?”

Qian Feng nodded. Though he had never liked Shadow Dragon, he still offered an explanation.

“You can’t blame him for this. No one expected Black Dragon to be defeated.”

Fan Shuang’er finally could not hold back and spoke.

“There was a major upheaval in the underworld of Suhang some time ago. Black Dragon was sent to investigate. No one expected him to return on the verge of death. The doctors said it was a miracle that he managed to make it back alive. It will probably take two or three months for him to fully recover.”

The upheaval in Suhang’s underworld…

A cold glint flashed through Xu Yun’s eyes. Could it be connected to the matter involving Feng Qiansui?

Whenever the underworld of Suhang was mentioned, Feng Qiansui could not be left out. He was its overlord, and the man who had suffered the greatest losses in the recent conflict there. Could Black Dragon have become involved in that affair as well?

“Based on what we know so far, we suspect that this has something to do with Green Ghost.” As he spoke, Qian Feng frowned. This matter was a secret among secrets to Dragon Fury, but Xu Yun was different. To him, Xu Yun was still Dragon Fury’s captain and instructor.

Fan Shuang’er’s brows knitted slightly as she lowered her voice. “Azure Dragon, you can’t say things like that carelessly.”

Qian Feng clicked his tongue. “The boss isn’t an outsider.”

Xu Yun smiled faintly. By now, he had more or less pieced everything together.

“So that’s why you volunteered to investigate Red Scorpion?”

Qian Feng nodded.

“Red Scorpion is the foremost expert under Green Ghost. We were surprised that he didn’t remain in Suhang at a time like this, but instead came all the way to Hedong City. Actually, when the Hedong City police requested assistance from headquarters, we had already applied to come here and investigate.”

Xu Yun had already guessed as much.

“Azure Dragon.” Fan Shuang’er sounded displeased.

Qian Feng rolled his eyes. Bringing a partner along? It was more like dragging his mother around!

“Strictly speaking, Red Scorpion really shouldn’t have come to Hedong.” Xu Yun smiled faintly. He did not mention Guoguo. Although he trusted Qian Feng not to say anything indiscreet, he could not guarantee that Fan Shuang’er, a newcomer, would not report the matter to Shadow Dragon.

After all, Shadow Dragon was far too rigid in the way he handled things and had no ability to adapt. What if he actually ordered someone to take Guoguo away?

That would be extremely awkward.

“But once we know that the Violent Fox Venerable is here, everything seems to make sense,” Qian Feng said calmly.

Xu Yun smiled faintly. Everyone knew that Qiu Yan was one of the most powerful subordinates of Feng Qiansui, the giant of Suhang’s underworld. There was no doubt about it.

“Flame Dragon, how did you end up mixed up with the Violent Fox Venerable?” Fan Shuang’er had been holding back this question for a long time. In her eyes, Xu Yun was still a former member of Dragon Fury. Even if he no longer belonged to them, he had no business associating with people from the underworld.

Qian Feng glared at her.

“Is that a name you can throw around so casually? Girl, when the boss was risking his life to lead us through battle, you probably didn’t even know where you were!”

“I know perfectly well.” Fan Shuang’er lifted her chin, righteous and unyielding. “When I was on the reserve team for Dragon Fury, I heard all about Flame Dragon. But I never witnessed it personally. Who knows whether the stories were exaggerated as they passed from one person to another?”

“You!”

Qian Feng slammed his glass onto the table. He could not stand anyone showing disrespect toward Xu Yun, and he was on the verge of losing his temper. If Fan Shuang’er had not been a woman, he would have slapped her already.

Xu Yun, however, remained completely relaxed.

“Hahaha, what an excellent use of ‘exaggerated as they passed from one person to another.’ Very apt.”

“Boss, don’t take it to heart. She’s just a little girl who doesn’t know any better. I’ll make sure to educate her properly later.” Qian Feng shot Fan Shuang’er another fierce glare.

Fan Shuang’er was not the least bit convinced.

“Enough nonsense. I didn’t come here with you to drink. I want to know where you encountered Red Scorpion. You said you fought him. Is that true?”

Xu Yun pointed toward the glass of whisky on the table.

“I’m no longer a member of Dragon Fury, so I have no obligation to tell you. If I enjoy my drink today, perhaps I might reveal something. If you can finish that glass, I may even be in a good enough mood to say more.”

Qian Feng watched Fan Shuang’er with malicious amusement, making no attempt to take her side.

“Drink it. It’s for the mission. Silver Dragon, don’t disgrace our Dragon Fury team.”

Fan Shuang’er glared fiercely at him.

“You drink it for me!”

“His drink is a separate matter,” Xu Yun said calmly.

“Fine! I’ll drink it!”

Fan Shuang’er drew a deep breath, then snatched up the glass. The pungent liquor burned her throat so fiercely that she could barely open her mouth. She had never really drunk alcohol before and had no taste for whisky served neat.

Even so, determined to obtain clues about the mission, she forced down the entire glass in one breath.

Bang!

After finishing it, Fan Shuang’er slammed the glass onto the table, displaying a boldness that rivaled any man’s.

Qian Feng could not help exclaiming in admiration.

“Well, look at you. Keeping your talents hidden, were you? I never would have guessed you could hold your liquor so well. I really shouldn’t have underestimated you, partner. Not bad, not bad. I’ll definitely bring you along whenever we go drinking in the future.”

Fan Shuang’er endured the burning heat rising through her stomach and glared at Qian Feng before turning to Xu Yun.

“Now will you tell me?”

Xu Yun had always kept his word.

“I encountered Red Scorpion when—”

“Wait!”

Fan Shuang’er suddenly cried out and covered her mouth. Without saying another word, she rushed toward the restroom. A poor tolerance for alcohol was a poor tolerance for alcohol; one glass was enough to set her stomach churning.

Qian Feng laughed gleefully.

“Azure Dragon.” Xu Yun did not laugh. Once Fan Shuang’er had left, his expression became solemn. “My advice is that you leave immediately. You are no match for Red Scorpion, and she has even less chance against him.”

The smile vanished from Qian Feng’s face as well, replaced by seriousness.

“Boss, we’ve investigated Red Scorpion’s strength. He shouldn’t be much stronger than I am. With Silver Dragon assisting me, taking him down shouldn’t be a problem.”

Xu Yun’s eyes were cold and merciless.

“That isn’t the issue. The issue is that he possesses a forbidden drug called the Yin-Yang Pill.”

Qian Feng’s pupils instantly widened several times over.

“You mean… that forbidden drug that can rapidly raise a person’s strength by an entire level?!”

“That’s right.”

Xu Yun’s firm answer immediately plunged Qian Feng into helplessness. If Red Scorpion had taken the forbidden drug, there was no way he and Silver Dragon could defeat him.

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