thefictionvixens Chapter 823 Protecting Wang Ran
Chapter 823 Protecting Wang Ran
Wang Ran shook his head, his tone even more helpless, and his voice even lowered a few decibels: "My lord, I don't know about this. But I noticed that they seemed to be injured, with dark red bloodstains in the gaps between their scales, and their breathing was somewhat disordered during the fight, as if they had just experienced a fierce battle. Later, I led people to search the demon territory, even the most hidden water caves and cliffs, but we couldn't find any trace of the dragon race. It was as if they had disappeared into thin air, leaving not even a trace of trampling on the grass and trees."
The old man remained silent for a moment, then his fingers clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, digging deeply into the carved grooves—if news of the dragon's appearance were to spread, it would surely cause a huge uproar. Those reclusive sects and powerful clans that controlled their respective regions would likely swarm in like sharks smelling blood. At that time, with all forces vying for power, his plan to monopolize the Dragon Pearl would be completely thwarted.
He looked up at Wang Ran, his gaze suddenly sharpening like an icy blade, piercing straight to the heart: "How many people know about this? Has there been any leak? Tell me the truth!"
Wang Ran's heart skipped a beat. He quickly bent his knees slightly and bowed even deeper, his reply carrying an unwavering resolve: "Rest assured, my lord, I know this matter is of great importance, concerning your grand plan. Those present at the time were all my trusted brothers who have followed me for many years. I have strictly ordered them to keep their mouths shut. Anyone who dares to utter a single word, whether it was a slip of the tongue while drunk or something discussed in private, will be punished according to the sect rules, stripped of their cultivation, and expelled from the sect! As of now, apart from you and me, no one else should know the inside story."
The old man finally let out a slow sigh of relief, his tense jawline softening slightly. His knuckles, white from the strain, relaxed, and he waved his hand. "Well done. Take some more men and explore the heart of the Misty Forest. Expand the search area by another ten miles. You must find the whereabouts of those young dragons within three days." He paused, his tone suddenly turning stern. "Remember, this must be done in secrecy. Wrap your horses' hooves in cloth, keep your swords sheathed, and make as little noise as possible. If you alert the dragons and they flee, or attract the attention of the demons or monsters, don't blame me for punishing you according to the sect rules!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" Wang Ran bowed deeply, bending even lower, his voice carrying an undeniable resolve. As he turned, his steps were lighter than when he came, yet he maintained his respectful demeanor, the hem of his robe brushing against the bluestone ground as he listened quietly and attentively.
The old man watched his retreating figure disappear behind the carved wooden door before picking up the teacup on the table. His fingertips touched the cold porcelain, only to find the tea had long since gone cold, the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup sinking heavily. He slammed the teacup down on the table with a dull thud, making the candlestick beside him shake. The old man's eyes were dark and unfathomable, greed and anxiety churning deep within his pupils—the Dragon Pearl was so close, he had waited a full century for it, from youth to old age, and he couldn't let this opportunity slip by. Even if it meant digging three feet into the ground, searching every inch of the Misty Forest, he would find the young dragons who held the clues to the Dragon Pearl.
The old man was actually quite satisfied with Wang Ran's response. Although the young man was still relatively inexperienced, he was ruthless and steady, never dragging his feet in his work, making him exactly the kind of person he could rely on right now. He took a sip of cold tea, his Adam's apple bobbing, and slowly said, "The fewer people who know about this matter, the better. You know how to deal with those gossipy and dishonest people in the team who don't need to be kept around, right?"
Wang Ran's heart skipped a beat, as if he had been pierced by an ice pick, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. But his face remained calm, his lowered eyelids concealing the turmoil in his eyes, and he nodded heavily: "Rest assured, my lord, I understand." His voice was as steady as if it were weighed down by a stone, "Those who should not know will not be allowed to hear a single word, not even a whisper will leak out."
He knew all too well what lay behind the word "deal with"—either like that gossipy cultivator from last year, being sent to a harsh, desolate outpost in the far north, guarding a barren, icy plain, never to return to the capital; or... to disappear forever into the misty forest, never to be found even a skeleton, assumed to have been devoured by demons.
The old man slowly nodded, his gaze falling on him as if examining a newly forged weapon, with scrutiny and consideration: "You are now the captain of the Dragon Hunting Team, right?"
"Yes, sir," Wang Ran replied, his eyes lowered, his fingers secretly clenching his sleeves, his knuckles turning white beneath the rough cloth. The Dragon Hunting Team sounded prestigious, but in reality, they were not among the top ranks of the Dragon Hunting Division, and their resources were less than a fraction of those of the patrol team. He had long wanted to move up a rank.
The old man gazed out the window at the deepening twilight, the last rays of dawn swallowed by dark clouds. His voice carried a hint of nonchalance, yet every word struck Wang Ran's heart like a hammer blow: "If you handle this matter well, once we get the Dragon Ball, I'll recommend you to the higher-ups for a deputy director position." He paused, looking at Wang Ran's suddenly tense shoulders, and added, "Your abilities are more than enough to shoulder this responsibility."
Wang Ran's heart skipped a beat, as if struck by a heavy hammer. His blood rushed to his head, and even his ears felt hot. Deputy Director! In the entire Dragon Hunting Division, only the Director held the power, wielding authority over criminal justice and troop deployment. If he could take this position, he could move into the division's brick building with a courtyard, manage hundreds of cultivators, and no longer have to put up with the whims of those old fogies who relied on their seniority, nor suffer from the open and covert exclusion—like last month, when he led the team to wipe out the demon's lair in the mountain stream, the credit was stolen by the captain of the second team, who only gave him two bolts of cloth as a reward.
He suppressed a smile, his Adam's apple bobbed twice, and his voice trembled almost imperceptibly: "Rest assured, my lord! I will risk my life to get this done! Not to mention finding the Dragon Pearl, I would even venture into the forbidden territory of the Dragon Clan without hesitation!"
As for the Dragon Ball, Wang Ran never considered keeping it for himself. He knew his own limitations—how could a mere mortal cultivator like him possibly control such a divine object imbued with the millennia-old spiritual power of the dragon race? Two years ago, a reckless cultivator, unaware of his own limitations, stole a dragon egg, only to explode and die within three days, his body turning to ashes. It was far better to honestly offer it to the old man, in exchange for a tangible future; that was the safest course of action. All other empty fame and fleeting gains, in the face of the deputy director's allure, had become insignificant dust.
"Alright." Seeing the burning eagerness in his eyes, the old man finally showed a faint smile, like the first melting of winter snow. "I will send you two good men later. They are veterans who have followed me for many years, experienced in countless battles, and their weapons are sharp. They will accompany you into the mountains and protect your safety along the way."