"Kill him?" Song Yun asked, somewhat surprised. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Yes." The old man sipped his tea, expressionless, as if he asked Song Yun to kill not a colleague but a hen that wouldn’t lay eggs.

"You’ve been in conflict with him for so many years and refused to touch him. Why do you want me to take drastic action as soon as I get back?" Song Yun squinted and asked.

"He couldn’t die then."

"And now?"

"He must die."

Song Yun leaned back on the rosewood chair, looked at the handmade painting hanging in the center of the hall, pondered a while, then raised his head and asked, "When do I act?"

"Tonight."

Song Yun chuckled bitterly and said, "I didn’t expect to be asked to kill as soon as I returned."

"He didn’t expect it either."

"I just sparred with him. His skills have improved. I’m not sure I can take him down quickly. If he shouts, many people will rush in. Then it’ll be impossible to act."

"So you need to be fast." The old man nodded approvingly.

Song Yun shrugged helplessly and bitterly cursed, "Old man. This isn’t a task, it’s not an 800-meter race. Can I just speed up because I want to? Since you think he must die, why don’t you go kill him?"

"One values what one achieves personally. Azure Dragon thinks the same. Once you take the Sect Leader position, Azure Dragon and I will not intervene. Whether you can hold it is your business, whether the Green Dragon Sect will be destroyed by the Hong Sect is also your concern."

"Old man, you’re too treacherous. After finishing your business, you leave me to clean up the mess. Why didn’t you just speak nicely when they came to seek justice, instead of killing their people? Now that you see the Hong Sect showing up, you pat your backside and leave everything on me. Damn, I’m not being the Sect Leader." Song Yun sat cross-legged on the stool, acting like a rascal.

"Do it, and there’s life. Don’t, and wait for them to come to your door."

"What do you mean?"

"Whether you do it or not, I’ll spread the news of you succeeding as the new Sect Leader. If you do, with the Green Dragon Sect’s current strength, you can fight. If you don’t, they’ll come for you soon. Don’t think about solving this using outside forces. You should know, in our circle, the most annoying thing is outside interference. Now, your only support is the Green Dragon Sect."

"Old man, did I ever tell you something?"

"What?"

"You’re very vile."

"Likewise."

The old man looked at an old clock hanging on the wall, then stood up and said to Song Yun, "The Shadow will assist you. After it’s done, your room is still the same as before."

With that, he walked away.

Song Yun watched the old man’s back. The only thought in his mind was to take off his mud-covered shoes and throw them at him. Damn, at such an old age, still pretending to be cool. Shameless.

The old man left, and in walked a man willing to hide in the shadows. Song Yun looked at the approaching Shadow and asked with a smile, "You’ve already planned it out?"

"It was planned three days ago." The Shadow walked directly to Song Yun and sat in the old man’s previous seat.

"Tell me why. Why did the old man suddenly have the intent to kill?" Song Yun felt a bit vexed. Talking to this icy person was exhausting; he answered with a few words and stayed silent unless asked.

"Three days ago, someone saw the Second Elder contacting people from the Hong Sect." The Shadow said with a grim face. For someone like him, betrayal was the ultimate taboo.

"Is the information reliable?" Song Yun squinted and asked. No wonder the old man said he must die. The Green Dragon Sect had the Hong Sect as an ’external threat.’ If the Second Elder was an ’internal problem’, it could indeed lead to a takeover.

"Reliable. We got word he reached an agreement with the Hong Sect: the Hong Sect would help him become the Sect Leader, and the Green Dragon Sect would become a subordinate of the Hong Sect."

"Would the Second Elder be so stupid? Dragging the Green Dragon Sect to become a subordinate, wouldn’t they be swallowed up without a trace?" Song Yun asked sarcastically. Greedy people are always blinded by immediate petty gains.

"Maybe he plans to fight the Hong Sect after attaining the leader’s position? They’re all schemers. Now they have a common enemy, which is us. Great Emperor, you should know, Sect Leader Azure Dragon isn’t handling things much anymore. Ever since Xia Tian left, she’s been managing things, so the Second Elder sees an opportunity to make a big move." Shadow flicked off a fold on his pants, spreading a hint of sinister sharpness at the corner of his mouth.

"Alright. Then we’ll work together again to show that fool our prowess." Song Yun, full of fighting spirit, got up and extended his hand to the Shadow.

"Good luck." Shadow stood up and shook hands with Song Yun.

Because the courtyard was large, several senior brothers and elders all had their own independent courtyards. Only Song Yun’s master, the old man, lived in the main house because he was the Great Elder. The Second Elder’s courtyard was in the northeast corner of the compound, marked by a century-old tree at the entrance.

In a dark corner, two figures were whispering.

Song Yun asked with a smile, "Who’s attacking?"

"The usual rule." The Shadow said softly.

"Alright. Guess the stone." Song Yun smiled and nodded in agreement.

Because the Shadow and Song Yun were always on good terms, the old man would team them up for certain tasks. They decided who would take the lead by guessing stones. One person would hold a stone in the left or right hand, the other would guess. If guessed right, the person holding the stone took the lead; if wrong, the guesser led. Mathematically, the one holding the stone had better odds, but every time Song Yun held it, he lost.

Song Yun extended both fists in front of the Shadow, smiling, "Left or right?"

"Neither." Shadow replied without hesitation.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"I’ll give you another chance to guess."

"No need."

Song Yun opened his hands powerlessly, finding them both empty as expected.

"So many years, can’t you change your answer?" Song Yun said with a wry smile.

"Your trick hasn’t changed." the Shadow retorted flatly.

"You go take out those guys outside first. I’ll go inside to deal with the old man. Hurry up and get in to help. Got your gun? Remember, aim for the head." Song Yun instructed.

"Understood." Shadow agreed, already darting away.

It was a narrow broken wall, just wide enough for one to hide. Approaching the two, the Shadow squatted at the wall’s corner, quietly waiting for the chance. Each needed to be dealt with in one blow. If any could make a noise, the assassination would fail. Patience—they never lacked it.

"Third Brother, Master seemed very angry today." said one leaning against the door.

"Yeah, looked really upset. Sixth Junior just got a scolding. We should be careful and not provoke him." replied another softly.

"He’s been ill-tempered since Senior Brother was crippled. What got him mad today?"

"Apparently, it’s because Song Yun returned." The man looked around and whispered.

"Song Yun? The guy who crippled Senior Brother?"

"Yeah, that’s him. Just came back. I heard it from Master Liu in the kitchen. He even brought back a woman, and Master Liu cooked for them."

"Wasn’t he expelled from the sect?"

"Who knows. Actually, we should thank Song Yun. Master was too biased towards Senior Brother, treating him as the only disciple. We were like stepchildren. After he was crippled, things improved for us. Brother, don’t spread my words, okay?" the man whispered.

"Don’t worry, Third Brother. I think the same. Damn, it’s cold. Third Brother, hold on, I’ve got a bottle of Maotai in my room from the last mission when Fatty brought it. I’ll go get it, let’s have a drink."

"Alright. Good stuff should be shared sooner. Hurry up."