Chapter 33: Close the Door and Release the Dogs

As tensions flared between the two sides, Jiang Yan suddenly whistled at the little short dragon lounging atop the motorcycle, watching the commotion. With a sly grin, he said, “Little Dragon, did you hear? They just tried to buy you. How could someone as noble as you be traded by mere humans? Clearly, they’re underestimating you! You ought to show them your true might!”

Jiang Yan mused to himself that since he had a bodyguard, there was no need for him to dirty his own hands in a brawl. This was the perfect occasion to let the little short dragon take the stage—how convenient... Even in the absence of a door, he couldn’t help but think of the phrase, “Release the hounds.”

The little short dragon found Jiang Yan’s words quite reasonable. Instantly, its interest in spectating vanished. Outrage surged within—it was being looked down upon by humans? Bristling with anger, the little dragon hopped down from the motorcycle. “What’s this? You want to buy me?”

One of the oafs on the other side’s eyes lit up at the sight of the dragon and hurried to answer on behalf of his senior brother. “That’s right, our senior brother is willing to pay a handsome price for you. Don’t worry, if you follow him, your life will be far better than sticking with that boy!”

“Oh? And just how many spirit stones are you willing to offer?” the little dragon asked coldly.

The oaf, thinking the dragon’s question meant he was interested, quickly replied for his senior brother, “Three thousand high-grade spirit stones!” After answering, he glanced at his senior brother and saw him glaring back. Had he offered too low a price? Indeed, with a senior brother so wealthy, a paltry sum would hardly be fitting. He quickly corrected himself, “No, no, five thousand high-grade spirit stones!”

Lu Chuan looked at his junior brother and sighed inwardly. Was this fool blind to how furious the dragon already was? He wanted to kick the oaf himself, but causing internal strife now would only make them look ridiculous in front of others.

This time, Chen Ping, ever the instigator, held his tongue, waiting patiently for the conflict to erupt.

Hearing the offer, the little short dragon was incensed. They actually dared to name a price! Did these humans not realize he was priceless? Did they truly see him as some mere commodity? His eyes blazed with fury. He lunged forward in a spinning kick, felling the hapless oaf before the man could even react.

The oaf’s face swelled instantly, his teeth scattering on the ground, and blood dripped from his mouth—a testament to the force of the little dragon’s blow.

Jiang Yan, witnessing the scene, let out a few appreciative whistles and praised, “Excellent, excellent! That’s the imposing presence I expect from you, Little Dragon!”

Bai Tao looked at Jiang Yan’s antics with some suspicion, certain that he was egging the dragon on to fight.

At that moment, Chen Ping shouted, “Get him! Let’s seize the dragon first!”

Perhaps Chen Ping thought the dragon’s small stature meant they could easily overwhelm him if they all attacked together.

Bai Tao, hearing Chen Ping’s command, was about to rush in and help, but Jiang Yan stopped him. “Bai Tao, you must have faith in the little dragon’s strength.”

Even as they spoke, the little dragon had already dispatched the attackers, leaving them sprawled on the ground. He plopped down on Chen Ping’s head. “You’re the troublemaker, aren’t you? Such a loudmouth! All of you, stay down, or I’ll give you another thrashing!”

Seeing the battered and bruised men groveling on the ground, Bai Tao couldn’t help but marvel at the little dragon’s efficiency.

“Come on, Bai Tao, let’s go seek justice,” Jiang Yan urged. He still remembered the man who had shoved Bai Tao toward the serpent; not only was it an act of betrayal, it was tantamount to attempted murder!

Bai Tao understood Jiang Yan’s intent and was deeply moved. Jiang Yan was truly the best friend he could ever have—someone who genuinely cared about him.

When they approached Wang Hu, the man was still trembling on the ground, his head bowed.

Jiang Yan stepped on Wang Hu’s right hand. “Well, well. For someone so cowardly, how did you dare to push someone who was trying to save you right into the serpent’s path? If I recall, it was this hand, wasn’t it?” With that, Jiang Yan ground his heel into the man’s hand several times.

“Ow, ow! I—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! Bai Tao, I’m so sorry, I was just too scared at the time, please…!” Wang Hu sobbed, both from pain and fear.

“And now you apologize? Isn’t it a bit late? If you truly felt remorse, you wouldn’t have been so surprised to see us alive! Just because you were scared doesn’t give you the right to harm others. Fear is no excuse for evil.”

Jiang Yan’s words pierced Wang Hu’s heart like daggers. He thought, it’s over for me…

Bai Tao, hearing Jiang Yan, realized how foolish he’d been to forgive those senior brothers time and again, not knowing that some people are rotten to the core and utterly unworthy of forgiveness.

“I’ll report this truthfully to the Sect Leader. Harming fellow disciples is a serious offense—Wang Hu won’t escape punishment. As for the rest of you, you’d best prepare yourselves,” Bai Tao declared.

Chen Ping, hearing this, felt fear for the first time and hung his head in silence. Of course, Bai Tao was the son of the Sect Leader—what parents wouldn’t protect their child? Why had he ever thought it wise to instigate and ostracize him?

Lu Chuan quickly spoke up, “Bai Tao, are you really going to report us to the Sect Leader? We never meant you any harm!”

“Exactly, Bai Tao, we’ve never harmed you! You need evidence to make such claims,” the others chimed in.

“Oh? You think I’m without proof? Fortunately, I was cautious, or I might have really ended up as the serpent’s dinner. If you fools hadn’t come back to check whether I’d survived, you wouldn’t have startled the serpent in the first place.”

At the time, Bai Tao had thought his senior brothers returned out of conscience, but once the serpent awoke, they simply fled, never once looking back for him.

Bai Tao produced a recording stone, channeling his spiritual energy to activate it. From it, several voices emerged—

“Senior brothers, look, there’s a cave over there. There might be a fierce beast inside. Why don’t we…” This was Chen Ping’s voice.

“Are we really doing this?” Lu Chuan’s hesitant voice followed.

“Senior brother, why worry? Disciples fall in secret realms all the time. As long as we keep this secret, no one will ever know.”

“Yes, yes, senior brother. Bai Tao’s been getting too many resources. If he’s gone, there’ll be more for us…”

Jiang Yan shook his head at the recording, clicking his tongue. “Tsk, tsk. You really are a pack of idiots—wicked and stupid both!”

The little short dragon, hot-tempered as ever, was furious at their words and gave the group another sound thrashing.

“Bai Tao, what will you do now?” Jiang Yan glanced at the battered men and asked.

“I’ll contact the Discipline Hall right away. They’ll come to take these men back for punishment,” Bai Tao replied. He then took out a communication jade and called the Azure Cloud Sect’s Discipline Hall.

Soon, five Nascent Soul experts in blue robes arrived, bowed to Bai Tao, and said, “Young Master, we’ll bind and escort them back immediately.”

Bai Tao simply replied, “Yes,” and waved his hand.

The bound men, all but Chen Ping, were puzzled—Young Master? What was Bai Tao’s true identity? But they had no time to dwell on it, facing the severe consequences ahead. Regret gnawed at them, but there was no medicine for regret in this world.

Watching the group led away in ropes, Jiang Yan patted Bai Tao’s shoulder, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “Bai Tao, why do they call you Young Master?”

“Heh… Actually, Jiang Yan, I’m the son of the Azure Cloud Sect’s Sect Leader,” Bai Tao replied, a little embarrassed.

Jiang Yan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Well, well, I didn’t expect your background to be so impressive!”

Afraid Jiang Yan might think he’d been hiding it on purpose, Bai Tao explained, “Jiang Yan, I didn’t mean to conceal it. I was just worried that if people knew, no one would want to be genuine friends with me.”

Jiang Yan nodded approvingly. “That’s perfectly reasonable. You can never be too careful. It’s important to keep your own secrets. Some people are just born envious, always jealous of those with greater status, better lives, or more talent.”

He went on, “But true friends don’t care about those things.”

Though Bai Tao didn’t fully grasp the meaning of “secrets” and “red-eye disease,” he understood Jiang Yan’s intent. He was surprised by Jiang Yan’s clarity of thought. “Jiang Yan, from now on, you’re my brother in arms—bound not by blood, but by life itself. If you ever need me, just call.”

“Heh, what are friends for? If you ever need me, just say the word,” Jiang Yan replied with a hearty laugh.

After their heartfelt farewell, Jiang Yan took the little short dragon and rode back to the Qilin Sect.