Chapter 41: The National Idol

"Wow! Look! It's Jin Luyi, Commander Jin! How handsome!"

"Commander Jin is my idol! I finally get to see her in person!"

As Jin Luyi appeared in the building with her dashing and spirited presence, the young ladies at the reception desk erupted into continuous screams, acting like a group of infatuated fans.

Although she was a woman, Jin Luyi was highly skilled in archery and horsemanship, and possessed extraordinary martial arts prowess. Despite her youth, she was already the commander of the Yanjing Guard. With her stunning beauty and ethereal temperament—a rare combination of grace and strength—she was deeply loved and admired by the public. For the young women of this new era, she was the ultimate idol and role model.

Who says women are inferior to men? Who says women must only concern themselves with vanity? Among women, there are those who prefer the sword to the mirror, those who can march into battle just like men to achieve great things!

At this moment, with a wave of her hand, Jin Luyi signaled for two squads of guards to enter and secure the situation. However, Ye Feng and Black Dragon’s party had already taken the elevator and departed.

Jin Luyi scanned the room and demanded sternly, "Who gave you permission to gather here? Did you report this to the authorities?"

"Where is your boss, Black Dragon? Tell him to come out and see me!"

Hearing this, the young ladies at the front desk replied timidly, "Our boss is currently accompanying an important guest; he has already gone upstairs."

"What kind of guest?" Jin Luyi pressed. "Who is it? To put on such a grand spectacle—are you planning a rebellion?"

The Dragon Gate Building was surrounded by nearly ten thousand people. Since joining the Yanjing Guard, this was the first time Jin Luyi had seen such a massive gathering, and she felt a deep sense of unease.

"It is..." Under Jin Luyi’s persistent questioning, the receptionist was forced to reveal the truth. "It is to welcome the Dragon King."

What? The Dragon King!?

"The Underground Dragon King?!" Jin Luyi was shocked, and the surrounding guards became visibly tense. Who didn’t know the legendary name of the Underground Dragon King? Back then, it had taken three God-of-War-level powerhouses working together to corner and capture him, eventually locking him away in a secret prison. Since then, the underground forces had crumbled and scattered like sand.

"Did he break out of prison?!" Jin Luyi felt a surge of alarm. If the escaped Dragon King was hiding here, the situation was dire!

"No, no, no!" the receptionist quickly clarified. "Not the old Dragon King. It’s a new Dragon King... they say he is the successor of the old one."

Hearing this, the tense guards finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"A new Dragon King?"

Jin Luyi frowned, but she dared not lower her guard. Even if he possessed only half the ability of the old Dragon King, he would still be a formidable challenge.

*Damn it,* Jin Luyi thought. *My godfather has only just left Yanjing, and not only has Black Dragon returned, but now a successor to the Dragon King has appeared? Trouble never ends.*

If they were gathering together, they were likely planning something.

"Take me to see them!" Jin Luyi declared firmly. She intended to see for herself just how much weight this new Dragon King carried.

"This..." the receptionists hesitated, "I will call and ask."

The phone call was, as expected, declined. "The boss says that since we are welcoming the new Dragon King today, it is not convenient to receive guests. Perhaps another day."

Jin Luyi pondered for a moment. She knew that if she forced her way in, a conflict would be inevitable, and she would end up being the one who started it. Furthermore, Black Dragon and his men were merely gathering; they had committed no crime, and even the Yanjing Guard had no justification to raid the building and make arrests.

"Very well, I will pay a visit another day!" Jin Luyi turned to leave, then paused and added, "Tell Black Dragon that since he has returned to Yanjing, he had best behave himself. The Yanjing Guard will be watching you at all times!"

"Move out!" Jin Luyi waved her hand and led her troops away.

***

Meanwhile, in the top-floor hall, Ye Feng sat upon the Dragon Throne, looking out over the crowd. Black Dragon was personally introducing his subordinates and the affairs of the Dragon Gate to Ye Feng. The group declared their allegiance to Ye Feng, vowing to serve him as their Dragon Lord with unwavering loyalty.

"This is Boss Su," Black Dragon said, moving on to the guests after introducing his own people. The first to be introduced were the Su family, one of the ten great wealthy clans.

"The Su family?" Ye Feng raised an eyebrow. He remembered Bai Weiwei saying that five of the great families had risen to power relying on the Bai family, and the Su family was one of them.

"I am Su Jiuchuan," Su Jiuchuan bowed hastily. "I am honored to witness the might of the Dragon King today. I am truly in awe, and the Su family is willing to form a permanent alliance with you."

Ye Feng glanced at Su Jiuchuan and asked, "Has the Cui family passed on the message that they are convening a meeting of the five great families in the coming days?"

"You mean the rumors about the Bai family returning to the fold?" Su Jiuchuan nodded. "I have heard some things. It is said that a top-tier powerhouse has arrived to support the Bai family, and in a single night, they beat the Cui family into submission. Ah—"

As he spoke, Su Jiuchuan suddenly froze. "Could it be... that the backer of the Bai family is you, Lord Dragon King!?"

Ye Feng nodded. "That is correct. It is me."

"I have a plan to help the Bai family rise again. When the time comes, I will need the full cooperation of your five families."

"I do not care about the past grievances between your five families and the Bai family; let those be water under the bridge."

"From now on, I am in charge, and you will obey my every command!"

"When the meeting comes, you know what to say and how to pledge your support, don't you, Su family?"

Su Jiuchuan understood instantly. "Our Su family will fully cooperate with you, Lord Dragon King. We will stand with you through thick and thin!"

Ye Feng nodded in satisfaction. Now that he had completely subjugated Black Dragon’s underground forces, and once he integrated the five great families for his own use after the next meeting, he would possess the capital in wealth and power to crush the Ye family. Reclaiming the Ye family was only a matter of time!

Just as they were discussing these matters, a subordinate rushed in to report that Jin Luyi of the Yanjing Guard had forced her way in and demanded an audience.

"Jin Luyi? Why is she here?" Ye Feng frowned but didn't pay it much mind. "Refuse her!"

But no sooner had they dismissed Jin Luyi’s party than another subordinate ran in, looking panicked.

"Report!"

"My Lord Dragon King, we are in trouble!"

"An old man has arrived outside, demanding to see Black Dragon. We tried to turn him away, but he fought his way up, and no one could stop him!"

Hearing this, Black Dragon was furious. "Hmph! Who dares to cause trouble for me? Are they tired of living?"

Before his voice had even faded, an aged voice echoed from outside the hall.

"It is I!"

A lean, elderly man with white hair and a white beard, dressed in simple cloth clothes and holding a staff, stood outside the hall.

"Boss, it's that old man!" the underling retreated several steps in fear.

"Who are you?" Black Dragon was stunned; he did not recognize this man.

"Elder Zhao sent me," the old man said slowly. "To teach you a lesson!"