Chapter 582: Chapter 582: The Puppeteer Behind the Dragon Master

The Yunhua Creek Resort, a property belonging to the Wang Family, had now become the Long Family’s stronghold in Yunluo City.

Inside the Tingyu Pavilion Teahouse, Ye Tianming held his phone to his ear, his hand trembling uncontrollably from sheer excitement. He was grinning so widely it felt like his smile might stretch to the back of his head.

"Don’t get too happy too soon."

The Long Family Head, sitting opposite him, had clearly heard Kristina’s voice from the phone, yet he remained composed and showed no sign of joy. He spoke indifferently, "Ever since Ye Xiu returned to the country to begin his revenge, he has yet to face defeat. No matter the expert, no matter the scheme or trick, all have been easily crushed by him. Kristina may not be able to kill him."

The Long Family Head had been beaten down by Ye Xiu to the point of losing all confidence. Ye Xiu’s power, his strategies, and his knack for controlling every situation had made him lose all hope of escaping Ye Xiu’s clutches.

Ye Tianming disagreed. "She’s the Princess of the Golden Family, one of the three great Judicator Families. When a person of her stature comes to Yunluo City, she’ll surely be surrounded by attendants and countless expert guards. There’s no way Ye Xiu can survive this time."

"Just stop talking," the Long Family Head cut in, stopping Ye Tianming’s daydream. He said tauntingly, "Every time you come up with an idea and get carried away, we’re guaranteed to lose. Your mouth is a damn jinx."

Ye Tianming thought about it for a moment and realized it was damn true. His heart leaped into his throat, and his confidence in Kristina vanished.

Seeing that Ye Tianming was no longer daydreaming, the Long Family Head picked up his teacup and took a sip, squinting as he debated with himself. Should I tell Kristina the secret of the dragon tattoo on Ye Xiu’s left arm? Once the three Judicator Families learn the secret of the dragon tattoo, they’ll surely use all their resources against Ye Xiu...

For a while, both men were lost in their own thoughts, forgetting to notify the Long and Ye Family members to gather there.

By the time they finished the pot of tea, the sound of roaring car engines suddenly came from outside.

"They’re here!"

Ye Tianming and the Long Family Head sprang up and hurried downstairs to greet the newcomers. Just as they reached the first floor of the teahouse, they saw Ye Xiu walk in, and their expressions changed drastically.

The Long Family Head glanced at Ye Tianming, his look clearly saying, *See? I wasn’t wrong. Your mouth really is a jinx!*

"What? Didn’t expect me to arrive before Kristina?" Ye Xiu asked in a teasing tone.

The realization that he knew Kristina was coming sent both Ye Tianming and the Long Family Head into a panic.

Ye Tianming asked fearfully, "What... what are you planning to do?" He thought Ye Xiu had come to silence them before Kristina arrived.

"Go brew a pot of tea and bring it to the second floor!" Ye Xiu ordered Ye Tianming. Then he turned to the Long Family Head and said, "Come upstairs with me."

He’s here for me? A chill ran through the Long Family Head’s heart. "Oh," he replied.

Ye Tianming hurried to brew the tea. While pouring water into the teapot, a wicked thought crossed his mind. He spat into it, picked his nose, and flicked a booger in before pouring in the hot water. By the time he carried the tea tray to the second floor, Ye Xiu and the Long Family Head were already seated.

Acting like a waiter, he poured tea for both of them, then stood aside, eagerly waiting for Ye Xiu to drink his saliva and booger.

"You drink this entire pot of tea," Ye Xiu commanded, staring coldly at Ye Tianming.

Ye Tianming’s mind went blank. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The Long Family Head, who had just raised his cup, glared sharply at Ye Tianming. "Did you tamper with the tea?"

"No, of course not! If you don’t believe me, I’ll drink it to prove I didn’t do anything."

To prove his innocence, Ye Tianming fought back his nausea and downed both cups of scalding hot tea—the ones intended for Ye Xiu and the Long Family Head. His attempt to disgust Ye Xiu had only resulted in disgusting himself.

"Get lost. Go wait on the first floor," Ye Xiu said coldly.

"Oh!" Ye Tianming turned and scrambled away, but before he even reached the stairs, he couldn’t hold it in any longer and vomited.

Hearing the sound, the Long Family Head drew a sharp breath. "He really did tamper with the tea."

Ye Xiu ignored the comment and got straight to the point. "I came to ask you a question, and I hope you’ll answer honestly. Don’t force me to interrogate you with a Forced Confession Potion. Once you drink that, you’ll become a complete idiot."

"Ask away," the Long Family Head replied. I’ve already figured it out. The trick to dealing with Ye Xiu is to be obedient to his face and plot behind his back later.

Ye Xiu asked, "As far as I know, ten years ago, you ordered Shen Songshan to frame me because you suspected I had a dragon-shaped tattoo on my left arm. But at that time, we were complete strangers with no connection. Why did you suspect me?"

So that’s what this is about... The Long Family Head realized. He said, "Eleven years ago, on the night of the eighth of June, I had a dream. In it, someone told me to find a person with a dragon-shaped tattoo on his left arm. This person in the dream said the man I was looking for would be no older than twenty, yet monstrously talented, possessing Medical Skills without peer and astonishing strength. He said that if I found this man and drank his blood, I would gain eternal life, unrivaled power, and many other strange abilities."

Ye Xiu frowned. "And you believed him?"

The Long Family Head gave a wry smile. "I didn’t have a choice. On the morning of June ninth, I woke up on the roof of my house—which is where the person in the dream had told me all this. Besides, I don’t have a history of sleepwalking."

Ye Xiu lowered his head and thought for a moment before asking, "What did the person in your dream look like? What was his name?"

"I don’t remember," the Long Family Head shook his head. "And I don’t remember how or when I fell asleep on the night of June eighth. I only remember practicing with my saber that evening. It’s like my memory of the entire period until the next morning was wiped clean."

Hypnosis. Memory erasure. Implanting new memories. These are all part of Chloe’s Purple Pupil Ability. It wasn’t that I suspected Chloe, though. Eleven years ago, she was just a little girl, and the strongest member of the Mohei Family was only a First Realm War God. They wouldn’t have been capable of hypnotizing the Long Family Head. But... the Mohei Family’s Purple Pupil Ability was granted to them by the three Judicator Families over three hundred years ago.

"Did that person ever seek you out again? Or have you dreamed of him since?" Ye Xiu asked.

"No," the Long Family Head replied, shaking his head.

Strange. Why would that person instruct the Long Family Head to find me but then never follow up to see if he succeeded? What was that all about?

Ye Xiu fell deep into thought. Just then, he heard a car pull up and stop outside the teahouse. Then he heard Ye Tianming’s obsequious, ingratiating voice.

"You must be Princess Kristina?"

A cold light flashed in Ye Xiu’s eyes. To be honest, while I’ve always been curious about the Judicator Families, I never intended to make them my enemies. Aside from getting revenge, all I want is to live a quiet life with Qin Qing. But now... there’s a ninety percent chance that the mysterious person who hypnotized the Long Family Head is a member of the Judicator Families. That means I have no choice but to cross swords with them. And I’ll start with Kristina.

...

After Kristina got out of the car, she saw an old man greeting her with the deference of a grandson. "I am Kristina," she said. "And who might you be?"