Chapter 401: Controlling the Grand Elder

Chen Qingdi sneered, “No one knows until they try.”

By now, Wan Qisong had already come to terms with life and death, and he roared arrogantly.

“I’m not fucking telling you! If you’ve got the balls, then kill me!”

Chen Qingdi sealed his Mute Acupoint again, then found Song Gang’s secure phone number and dialed. The call connected shortly after.

By this point, his voice had changed, transforming into a perfect imitation of the Grand Elder’s.

“Song Gang, where are you now?”

Song Gang replied respectfully, “Teacher, your student has followed your instructions. I have already submitted the application to Long Shou!”

Chen Qingdi lowered his voice and said, “I order you to withdraw the application immediately. The operation is canceled!”

He had thought his impersonation was so perfect that Song Gang would carry out the order without question. To his surprise, however, Song Gang said,

“We have the upper hand now, why cancel? Your student does not understand!”

Chen Qingdi’s mind raced, and he quickly came up with an excuse.

“Your teacher is having some heart trouble right now and can’t go to oversee the situation. Postpone the operation for now. Let your teacher think it over.”

Song Gang grew extremely agitated. “Teacher, this hesitation—fearing wolves ahead and tigers behind—will be your undoing! So what if your heart is acting up? Your student is perfectly healthy! Rest assured, when you meet Long Shou, I will force him to abdicate. Then, I will ensure you ascend to the throne from your sickbed. And I will become your unwavering guard!”

Hearing this, Chen Qingdi knew. ‘The Grand Elder is far from the only one with such plans.’

‘This is likely a faction with ulterior motives, all of them biding their time and waiting for the right moment to act.’

‘They’re just waiting for someone to commit regicide without a care, and then the others will use that person as a stepping stone to seize the throne themselves.’

Although Song Gang was a fierce general, his political sensitivity was nil. He had unwittingly become cannon fodder for someone else’s ambition.

Chen Qingdi said in a low voice, “You’re being foolish. Haven’t you ever heard the saying, ‘the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind’? An impulsive move like this will only benefit others!”

Just then, Chen Qingdi heard a voice he had been dreading.

“Song Gang, you do your part. Even if the Grand Elder is gone, we will carry on his legacy and see this operation through to the end.”

‘Second Elder Du Xiangyong!’

Upon hearing this voice, both Chen Qingdi and the Grand Elder in his seat couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

Realizing the situation was untenable, Chen Qingdi decisively hung up the phone and pulled out the needle sealing the Grand Elder’s Mute Acupoint.

“You plotted so painstakingly for so long, only to have someone else pluck the fruit of your labor. Anything to say for yourself?”

Before the Grand Elder could speak, a frantic ringing sounded from outside again.

When no one opened the door for a long time, the person outside activated the doorbell’s message function.

“Grand Elder, this is bad! Dai Xueli was ambushed and is now in a vegetative state! The key fugitive has escaped! Please instruct us on what to do!”

Chen Qingdi once again sealed the Grand Elder’s Mute Acupoint, then opened the door. Several Samurai armed with live ammunition burst in and rushed to the Grand Elder’s bedside.

The man in the lead was Dai Xueli’s second-in-command, Sun Zui!

“So, you were here all along.”

Before Sun Zui could even react, Chen Qingdi used Flying Dragon Fist, instantly knocking the weapons from their hands before capturing Sun Zui alive.

He knew there was no time to lose. Any delay, and everything on Long Shou’s end would be thrown into chaos.

He quickly jabbed Sun Zui’s body a few times. The burly man instantly seemed to deflate by half.

Chen Qingdi lowered his voice. “I’ve just used the Three-Day Heart-Pushing Hand on you. A current of Chiyang True Energy is now flowing through your body. It will slowly cause your heart to wither. If I don’t use my special technique to release it, your death will be unspeakably gruesome!”

Although Sun Zui was as vicious as Dai Xueli, his backbone wasn’t nearly as strong. With a THUD, he fell to his knees before Chen Qingdi.

“I admit my guilt! Please spare my life, Lord Divine Physician!”

Chen Qingdi said in a low voice, “If you want to live, then obey my commands. Take the Grand Elder and head to the Dragon Palace!”

The Dragon Palace was where Long Shou issued his commands. It was originally a rather spectacular villa, but people had simply gotten into the habit of calling it a palace.

In reality, it was a far cry from an imperial palace in the ancient sense.

Sun Zui gathered all the Dark Guards. They followed behind Chen Qingdi, presenting their Tokens to gain unimpeded access to the Dragon Palace.

There, they discovered Song Gang gathered with the Seven Great Elders of the Elder Council.

Meanwhile, Long Shou was surrounded only by a few dedicated staff members; all his other guards were absent. He was, to all appearances, completely isolated.

However, Long Shou had faced life and death for years, long ago cultivating the air of a sovereign ruler looking down upon the world.

Even with no Samurai by his side, his mere presence was enough to make an army of thousands hesitate to take a single step.

Seeing that these men had not yet resorted to more extreme measures, Chen Qingdi finally relaxed.

When all the conspirators saw the Dark Guards arrive pushing the Grand Elder, they were all greatly encouraged.

Song Gang, especially, was overjoyed and hurried to the Grand Elder’s side.

“Teacher, is your body feeling better? Lord Long Shou is now a setting sun! The day you accept his abdication is just around the corner!”

A hundred different emotions churned within the Grand Elder, but with his Mute Acupoint sealed, he couldn’t say a word and remained silent.

At this moment, the other Elders of the Elder Council, led by the Second Elder, all gathered around the Grand Elder.

Song Gang pointed at Long Shou and demanded, “The status of a retired Elder is revered. Even a weapon as sharp as Long Shou wouldn’t dare to offend one. So, Lord Long Shou, I ask you: the Elder Council’s previous Seventh Elder died under mysterious circumstances. You need to give us an explanation!”

Beside Long Shou stood only a young man in his twenties, his personal attendant.

The young man stood protectively in front of Long Shou. “If you wish to ask Lord Long Shou questions, you should go through the proper channels. Must you be so aggressive?”

Song Gang paid the young man no mind. “The adults are talking here. What business is it of a little punk like you? Get the hell out before this grandpa gets angry!”

Long Shou said coolly, “Song Gang, you were one of my own soldiers once. I never thought that after all these years, even after reaching such a high position, your temper still hasn’t improved.”

Song Gang’s arrogant demeanor subsided somewhat. He bowed respectfully to Long Shou.

“Sir, this humble general believes you must give these gentlemen an answer!”

Long Shou snorted. “I don’t care what you think. It’s what I think that matters. You little whelp, what gives you the right to speak to me like that?”

Even though Song Gang was already approaching his fifties, in Long Shou’s eyes, he was still just a little whelp.