When the Dagger Was Revealed

Luo Tai and Lin Qi arrived outside a separate courtyard, one after the other.

Standing before the vermilion-lacquered gates, Luo Tai hesitated for a moment.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the ominous feeling in his heart, and called out as steadily as he could:

"Yi'er, open the door. Your father is back."

His voice echoed through the empty courtyard, but there was no response.

"Godfather, don't worry. Xiao Yi... he usually likes to sleep in. Maybe he played too late again last night, so he might... might still not be awake."

"This is the heart of the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, guarded tightly. Xiao Yi has also been under strict watch these past few days. How could anything have happened to him?"

Seeing Luo Tai's face, so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water, Lin Qi hurried forward and offered a dry laugh of reassurance.

Though he said that, the sense of foreboding in his heart only grew stronger. Unable to resist, he stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Xiao Yi! Xiao Yi! Are you in there? Open the door!"

"Xiao Yi..."

The only answer was still deathly silence.

Bang!

With a thunderous crash, Luo Tai could no longer hold back and kicked the gates open.

The sturdy gates, made of fine ironwood, shattered into pieces like paper beneath the impact of his battle aura.

Luo Tai entered the room with a livid face, and a foul, stale odor of wine and sweat immediately assailed him.

The room was a complete mess. As for Luo Yi? There was not even a trace of him to be seen.

"Xiao Yi! Stop playing around! Come out!"

Lin Qi's last shred of hope shattered, and unprecedented panic surged through him.

One moment, he threw back the bed curtains; the next, he flung open the wardrobe, muttering nonstop beneath his breath:

"Impossible... He was clearly here this morning. How could he have disappeared?"

"Could he have gone to play at the training grounds in the back courtyard? Or... perhaps he went to someone else's room? Search! Find him no matter what!"

Lin Qi, his face full of panic, turned toward the doorway and roared at those outside.

"Guards! Where the hell have you all gone?"

Several guards rushed in, flustered and frantic, upon hearing the commotion.

The moment they saw the murderous looks in the two leaders' eyes, they were scared out of their wits.

"Le... Leader, Vice Leader, wh... what are your orders?"

"I told you to watch the young leader! Is this how you watched him? Now he's gone!" Lin Qi pointed at their noses and cursed them viciously.

"Ah? He... he's gone?" The lead guard's face went deathly pale as he stammered, "N-No way! We've been guarding outside the courtyard without moving a single step. Not even a fly could have gotten out! And... and earlier, we even heard the young leader losing his temper and cursing someone..."

"What good is saying that? Where is he? What are you standing around for? You useless trash! Go find him now! Turn the entire compound upside down if you have to, but find Xiao Yi!"

"Yes! Yes!" The guards felt as though they had been pardoned and immediately turned to rush out.

"Godfather, don't worry. I'll take men to search right now! Xiao Yi must still be in the compound. We just don't know where he ran off to play!"

Lin Qi turned around and spoke to the silent Luo Tai.

Cold sweat had already seeped from his forehead. He knew his godfather all too well.

Having fathered a son late in life, Luo Tai had spoiled Luo Yi, his only bloodline, to the core. He granted him virtually every request, which was why Luo Yi had developed such a lawless temperament.

If anything happened to this treasure of his heart, Lin Qi did not dare imagine what Luo Tai might do.

"No need."

Luo Tai spoke slowly. His voice had turned somewhat hoarse, yet his face was strangely calm, as though nothing had happened.

"What?" Lin Qi did not understand at first.

Looking at Luo Tai's calm expression, Lin Qi's scalp inexplicably went numb.

"Before Xiao Ding left the Mercenary Association, he had already calculated when we would return."

"Since he dared say those things, he must have prepared a contingency. I'm afraid Yi'er... is already in their hands."

"What a fine diversion! What a fine strike at the root!"

"Xiao Ding, Xiao Ding! You really are courting death!"

By the final sentence, a chilling murderous intent, almost tangible, had seeped into his calm voice!

"That Xiao Ding has some nerve!" Lin Qi was both shocked and furious. "Godfather! I'll take men to the Mercenary Association immediately! He dared to openly abduct someone within Stone Desert City. That's a breach of the rules! Even Lin Xiao won't be able to protect them!"

"Enough! What good will it do to go there now?" Luo Tai suddenly shouted sternly. "Xiao Ding and Xiao Li weren't originally from Stone Desert City. Do you think they would foolishly remain in the city? They may have already fled beyond the city walls with Yi'er!"

"Then... what do we do now? We can't... we can't just let this go!"

Lin Qi was frantic. Though he was not Luo Tai's biological son, Luo Tai had adopted him since childhood, and he had long regarded Luo Yi as his own younger brother.

"The monks may flee, but the temple remains!" A cold glint flashed through Luo Tai's aged eyes. "Aren't Xiao Ding and Xiao Li always going on about brotherhood? Fine! I'd like to see whether their brothers are more important, or my son's life!"

He turned to Lin Qi and spoke in an utterly grim tone:

"Lin Qi! Immediately gather the best men in the group and surround the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's compound! Bring everyone inside to me, regardless of age or gender! I want to see what Xiao Ding can use to fight me!"

"Of course!" A vicious gleam burst from Lin Qi's eyes. "Xiao Ding and Xiao Li may run, but those remaining crippled soldiers of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group can't! Godfather, you're wise! I'll handle it at once! They dared lay a hand on Xiao Yi? The Desert Iron Mercenary Group must be tired of living!"

Lin Qi turned to leave, but at that moment, a guard hurried in through the doorway with a letter raised high in his hand.

"What is it? Why are you still so reckless?" Lin Qi snapped impatiently.

"Le... Leader Luo Tai! Vice Leader Lin Qi!" The guard was panting heavily. After catching his breath, he continued, "J-Just now, a little beggar came to the gate and forced a letter into my hands. He said... said it was specifically for the two leaders! I didn't even get the chance to question him before he disappeared!"

As he spoke, he presented the letter with both hands.

"A letter!"

Luo Tai's heart suddenly sank. He snatched the letter away.

It was an ordinary envelope made of yellow hemp paper, with no signature on it. There were only several large words written in blood—For Luo Tai's Eyes Only!

Luo Tai's hands trembled slightly as he tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.

The instant he glanced at it, a terrifying killing intent erupted from his body, shattering all the nearby tables and chairs as if it were tangible!

"Godfather! Is it... is it news about Xiao Yi?" Lin Qi asked anxiously.

Luo Tai said nothing and casually handed him the letter.

"See for yourself."

Lin Qi hurriedly took it and focused his gaze upon it. Two bold, sweeping lines were written across the paper:

"Your son Luo Yi is in my custody! At dusk, come to Sandland Poplar Forest—just you and Lin Qi."

"If you bring anyone else, or arrive even a moment late, come collect the corpse of your useless son!"

The letter even marked the exact location and thoughtfully included a drawing.