Old Man Mu's bringing Shi Qingjue to the Gourd Inn had attracted some people's attention. The monk Lian Qing had followed that trail to the Guard Commandant's residence.
Lian Qing could let go of his grudge over his brother's murder, but he had never thought much of the Dragon King. The moment he stepped through the gates of the Guard Commandant's residence, wariness showed on his face.
Long Fanyun recognized Lian Qing. "Monk, how are you?"
"Mm," Lian Qing grunted. He looked around before fixing his gaze on Long Fanyun. "Your leg still hasn't healed?"
"It won't heal. Even Divine Doctor Sun can't do anything."
Lian Qing wasn't truly concerned about Long Fanyun's injury. He turned his attention to Hong Fu. "Aren't you... Instructor Shangguan's female attendant? Why aren't you with the Kun Society? Why have you come over to the Dragon King's side?"
"That's my business, Monk. You didn't come to the Guard Commandant's residence to pry into family matters, did you?"
At the words "family matters," Long Fanyun felt both warm and awkward. He gave a quiet cough. Lian Qing scratched his bare head twice, then suddenly understood. "Oh, so that's how it is. No, that's not why I came. Please call the Dragon King out. I want to see him."
"Long Fanyun is in charge of the Guard Commandant's residence. Whatever you need, you can tell him," Hong Fu said.
Lian Qing thought it over, then said to Long Fanyun, "Old Man Mu took a monk away from the Four Truths Blue Lotus Monastery. I'm asking you to hand him over."
Long Fanyun only knew that Old Man Mu had brought back a stranger. Since he'd taken the man straight to the Dragon King, Long Fanyun hadn't asked about it. For a moment, he didn't know how