The shrill voice said coldly, "Fools. Who could we tell something this important? Do you want outsiders to mock us? Hmph, Yu Yuanzhen's disappearance must never leak out. We'll simply say he was fond of fooling around, sneaked out to have some fun, and accidentally ran into danger. As for the others, heh heh, they'd better not learn about this."
A slightly older man said, "But we can't guarantee this won't leak out. Besides, everyone in the clan probably already knows, don't they?"
The shrill voice said venomously, "So what? What can they do to us? We can invent a few trumped-up charges. In any case, they mustn't suspect us."
A middle-aged man frowned and said, "How can we casually reveal our clan's secrets? What if we anger certain people within the clan..."
The shrill voice blazed with fury. "If we're gone, what clan will there be? Hmph, if this gets out, do you think our clan will still have any reason to exist?"
The middle-aged man froze for a moment, then muttered under his breath, "But how do we deal with Yu Yuanzhen? He's disappeared. The clan leader is bound to blame us."
The shrill voice barked, "Shut up! If it weren't for you, would Yu Yuanzhen have disappeared?"
He pointed at the old man and said, "How can something like this be blamed on us? All of us will be abandoned by the clan. Do you understand?"
The old man said ominously, "That settles it. I've made up my mind. I'll handle this personally."
The middle-aged man said indignantly, "Father, have you gone mad? We've struggled for the clan all our lives. How can you give up?"
The old man smiled and patted the middle-aged man's shoulder. "My son, our clan will fall sooner or later. We might as well leave early, before disaster overtakes us."
At that, everyone fell somewhat silent.
Just then, however, the old man suddenly looked up and bellowed, "Who's outside?!"
A wisp of pale golden light drifted in from beyond the courtyard wall. Wearing a broad smile, Yi Chen folded his arms across his chest and said, "Greetings, esteemed clan leaders. I'm Yi Chen."
"Hmm, are you discussing the honor and dignity of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
Everyone in the room sprang to their feet at once, gripping their weapons and staring fixedly at Yi Chen, who had barged in without warning.
Yi Chen casually threw a couple of punches into the air and said calmly, "Please, take a seat. I mean you no harm. Otherwise, with my strength, do you think you could stop me?"
As he spoke, Yi Chen strode into the room and casually shut the door.
He carefully studied the men before him, their auras formidable and their bodies brimming with killing intent, and could not help praising them. "Very impressive auras. As expected of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's upper ranks. Heh, not bad. You're a hundred times stronger than the ordinary fellows I've met. But I'm really not a bad person. I'm here to help you."
Yi Chen's gaze swept over everyone present as he said unhurriedly, "I imagine you all know what happened this time, don't you? Yu Yuanzhen has disappeared."
The old man drew a deep breath. "Who exactly are you? Do you think you have any right to meddle in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's affairs? Get out, now!"
Yi Chen asked in surprise, "Huh? You've never heard of me? Hmm, could this world be too small? Surely not?" He shook his head, looking unconvinced.
The old man stared at Yi Chen through gritted teeth, wishing he could cleave him apart with a single stroke.
Yi Chen smiled. "Since I'm not welcome, I'll leave. Oh, right, a word of advice. Don't bring trouble down on yourselves over a moment's impulse. The trouble you provoke could very well be the greatest trouble in the entire world."
The old man said furiously, "Get out! Leave this place right now!"
Yi Chen shrugged. "I'm not here to make trouble for you. Do you worthless fools even deserve it?"
He stretched lazily. Before he made any further move, the old man's fist struck his palm.
Yi Chen looked at the old man contemptuously. "Oh? I couldn't tell. You're not that weak."
An immense pressure rushed toward him, and the force of the old man's punch turned into a raging hurricane that thundered forward.
Yi Chen gave a disdainful chuckle, deftly caught the old man's wrist with his right hand, and twisted hard.
The old man let out an agonized howl, his arm dangling limply along his left side. Yi Chen smiled nonchalantly and said, "Old fellow, your bones are pretty tough."
A vicious gleam flashed in the old man's eyes as he growled, "What do you want? Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is one of the Upper Three Sects. You dare act recklessly here?"
Yi Chen nodded slightly and said, "So you know what I want to do? I've never heard of it myself."
The old man raised his head proudly, utterly unafraid of Yi Chen's fierce aura, and sneered, "Hmph, there's plenty you don't know. Must we tell you every last thing? Boy, do you know that if your strength didn't far exceed mine, I'd have slaughtered you with one stroke long ago?"
Yi Chen burst out laughing. "You actually dare lay hands on me?"
The old man roared savagely, "You little bastard! No matter who it is today, anyone who dares interfere in our clan's affairs will get no mercy from us!"
Yi Chen said with easy composure, "Are you a high-ranking member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
The old man said arrogantly, "Of course. I'm a Titled Douluo. Well? Regretting it now?"
Yi Chen nodded. "Your strength isn't bad. I could keep your head as an ornament. How about it?"
The old man was overjoyed and shouted, "What did you say? You dare touch anyone from our clan? Are you tired of living?"
Yi Chen shook his head and said, "I have no intention of touching you. I only want to collect a few heads. If you don't mind, I think I could kill all of you, and get the heads of those clan leaders of yours to play with as well. What do you think?"
The old man roared furiously, "Don't even think about it! Do you know who we are? If you dare touch a single hair on our heads, our clan will muster every last ounce of its strength to destroy you!"
Yi Chen spread his hands helplessly and said, "Ah, you old sticks-in-the-mud. Can't you bend a little? Do you understand? I won't do anything to you. After all, Yu Yuanzhen and I are friends. I've come to see you because I want to cooperate with you."
The old man's face turned red, then green.
Yi Chen's words left them feeling deeply humiliated. They were all noble members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, members of its inner circle.