Discarded Pawn

A day earlier, before the gates of Zhang Residence.

"Steward Zhang, please inform the Zhang Household head that Chen Dao, leader of the Wild Wolf Gang, has come to pay a visit."

Steward Zhang slightly raised his chin, looking down arrogantly at the fawning, humble Chen Dao.

"I know. Wait here."

With that, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Chen Dao could only swallow his anger.

They were both dogs, but that man happened to bear the surname Zhang.

Before long, a servant dressed in coarse cloth led Chen Dao into Zhang Residence.

Before they reached the main hall, Chen Dao spotted Steward Zhang standing guard outside.

Seeing Chen Dao being brought over by a servant, Steward Zhang merely glanced in his direction.

Then, with a respectful expression, he spoke toward the main hall.

"Master, Leader Chen has arrived."

"Let him in."

A dignified male voice came from within the main hall.

"Yes, Master."

Chen Dao watched Steward Zhang's humble demeanor, so utterly different from before.

He could not help but snort inwardly. Still just a bootlicking dog who followed the wind.

He then walked straight past Steward Zhang.

Steward Zhang's smiling face immediately darkened, and he spoke to the servant beside him.

"Leave."

The servant hurriedly nodded and quickly ran out of Steward Zhang's sight.

Inside the main hall, only a tall, imposing man in brocade robes stood with his back to the entrance.

"Greetings, Zhang Household Head."

Chen Dao glanced at the figure, then immediately lowered his head and knelt, not daring to look again.

Not only because of the gap in their strength, but because he, Chen Dao, was nothing more than a dog in the Zhang Household's hand.

Zhang Bicheng, head of the Zhang Household, was a Peak Meridian Passage Realm expert. Crushing Chen Dao would be as easy as crushing an ant.

Chen Dao prostrated himself on the ground, yet no response came for a long while. The main hall was terrifyingly silent.

Seeing this, how could Chen Dao fail to understand? The news that he had failed to take down True Intent Martial Hall had long since reached Zhang Bicheng's ears.

Cold sweat soaked through his clothes layer by layer, and his fingertips trembled faintly.

Just as he was about to explain, a deep, imposing male voice suddenly rang out, cutting off all his thoughts.

"I heard Wu Yi is still alive?"

"My lord, Wu Yi is indeed alive, but..."

Chen Dao's Adam's apple bobbed. The words reached his lips, only for him to suddenly stop.

"Hm?"

From the corner of his eye, Chen Dao saw the figure before him move, turning in his direction.

"Rise and speak."

"Yes, yes, my lord."

Chen Dao rose, though he still kept his body bent. Then he slowly raised his head.

A face with high cheekbones, phoenix eyes, a slightly prominent nose bridge, a ruddy complexion, and a beard was staring at him.

Sharp killing intent lurked within those eyes.

The moment Chen Dao met his gaze, his heart trembled.

If he did not provide a convincing reason today, he feared he would be carried out horizontally.

After weighing it in his heart, he decided to reveal the news that Wu Yi might be a demon in disguise.

"My lord..."

Seeing Chen Dao's hesitation, Zhang Bicheng raised a hand and lightly beckoned him closer.

Chen Dao immediately understood and stepped forward quickly.

Bending down beside Zhang Bicheng's ear, he lowered his voice and explained word by word that Wu Yi might have transformed from a demon.

After finishing, Chen Dao retreated to his original spot with his body bent, not daring to breathe too heavily.

After hearing Chen Dao's words, Zhang Bicheng's brows furrowed slightly before relaxing again.

"Hm, I understand."

"Your Wild Wolf Gang will remain still for now. When the time is right, experts from my Zhang Household will naturally come to assist you."

"That is all. Withdraw."

"My lord, that may be..."

"Hm? Are you questioning my decision?"

The threat in his words was unmistakable, as though it had turned into countless blades that chilled Chen Dao to the bone.

"My lord, how would this subordinate dare question your decision?"

"Then this subordinate shall take his leave."

With that, Chen Dao hurried out, as though he did not wish to remain for even a moment longer.

After Chen Dao had gone far away, a figure slowly emerged from behind the screen behind Zhang Bicheng.

As though he had eyes on the back of his head, Zhang Bicheng spoke calmly without turning around.

"Is he one of yours?"

Hearing this, the figure lowered his head as though lost in thought.

"Most likely. I just don't know who would dare show himself without permission."

"Could it be..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Bicheng cut him off with a sharp rebuke.

"Hmph! Whoever it is, do not forget our agreement!"

The figure smiled upon hearing this. "Of course."

Then he abruptly changed the subject.

"I think the Wild Wolf Gang is quite suitable. Ninth has suffered no small injury..."

Zhang Bicheng frowned at this, but ultimately relented.

"Do it cleanly. Those above have been keeping a close watch lately."

"Of course."

The figure seemed delighted by this. His mouth unconsciously stretched to his ears, his smile incomparably eerie.

A thud sounded outside the main hall, clearly the sound of something heavy falling to the ground.

Hearing the noise, Chen Dao sobered up by more than half and immediately reached for the Ghost-Head Saber beside him.

He exchanged a glance with the Second Leader, who had risen warily beside him.

"Doggie, what's going on outside?"

Chen Dao roared, his voice thunderous as it echoed through the main hall, yet no response came for a long time.

Doggie was Chen Dao's trusted man and had been guarding the entrance to the main hall these past few days.

Normally, the moment he heard Chen Dao speak, Doggie would immediately answer.

Now that there had been no reply for so long, Doggie had likely met with misfortune.

A dark glint flashed in Chen Dao's eyes as he drew his saber with a swish.

Seeing this, the Second Leader silently put on his coldly gleaming knuckle dusters.

"Second Brother, it seems we won't be able to avoid this one."

Chen Dao shook his head with a bitter smile, seeming to sink into his memories.

Yet the Second Leader's gaze remained fixed on the doors.

"Looks like these years of easy living have eventually worn away our edges."

Back then, Chen Dao had also been a spirited young man. Relying on his unique Headsman's Saber Technique, he and his two brothers had fought their way to establish the Wild Wolf Gang's reputation.

At the time, he had imagined that once the Wild Wolf Gang grew strong enough, he would do more good deeds for the many common folk of Cloudwater City, so as not to betray the ideals of his youth.

One swift stroke of the blade, worthy of a young man's head.

Yet ever since they had attached themselves to the Zhang Household, they had instead become the ones exploiting the common people.

When they had fought another gang for Cloudwater Wharf, everyone said Chen Dao had succeeded only because the Zhang Household stood behind him.

But only he knew that he had taken Cloudwater Wharf through brotherhood, courage, and a willingness to fight.

After leaving the Zhang Household, he had seen clearly that the Wild Wolf Gang was nothing more than a disposable pawn in the Zhang Household's eyes.

And now, not even a trace of those so-called Zhang Household experts could be seen.

The more Chen Dao thought about it, the more bitterness welled up in his heart.

The gang had grown larger and larger, but people's hearts had drifted further apart, and the brothers had gone their separate ways.

"Big Brother..."

Seeing that Chen Dao was distracted, the Second Leader could not help reminding him.

"I'm fine, Second Brother. If we brothers can break out today, we'll leave the Zhang Household, leave Cloudwater City, and start over."

Firelight flickered in Chen Dao's pupils, and the Second Leader seemed to see his younger self within them.

"Yes, Big Brother. We'll definitely make it out alive."

Suddenly, amid the insect chirps outside the deathly silent main hall, waves of chewing sounds reached their ears.

The two exchanged a knowing look and nodded at the same time, as though they had made up their minds.