Return of the King, Dominating the City-Chapter 1613 - 1507: Succession

The few members of the enforcement team patrolling the entrance of the Elder Council were personally dealt with by the old man. Their skills and alertness were undoubtedly high, but from the moment they spotted their target until the moment a cracking sound came from their necks, none of them could make a sound.

Just like Song Yun, the old man preferred attacking the opponent’s neck because he believed it was the simplest and most effective killing method. Attacking other parts might require several moves, but attacking there only needed one. He used no weapon, only his hands, but those hands were the sharpest weapon in the world. Miraculously, they appeared on others’ necks with a crisp sound and then miraculously disappeared.

After Song Yun and those black-clad men stood in the courtyard, lined up and fired a round at the Elder’s main house, shouting and chaotic gunfire finally sounded from inside. For the first time in hundreds of years, the Great Elder led an attack to slaughter the Elder Council. They had foreseen the possible reaction from the old man and prepared preventive measures, but they did not expect the old man to be so ruthless, so absolute.

"Abomination! Are you not afraid of being cursed by others? If you continue like this, even if you win, what of it! You despicable traitor!" The Supreme Elder’s voice emerged from within the house, filled with grief and anger.

The old man stood expressionlessly behind Song Yun and the others; his long robe fluttered in the wind. Song Yun pointed with a smile to the house where the voice came from; several black-clad men understood, immediately raising their guns to fire at the house. Screams erupted continuously from within the house. Every second, someone was injured, each falling under the gun muzzle of their fellow disciples.

The enemy’s counterattack was resolute, but the attacking side was even more prepared. As they retreated and hid inside the house, the Fifth Elder even brought out a mini rocket launcher. With a thunderous boom, the entire courtyard trembled, and distant mountains echoed, leading some to suspect someone was blasting mountains with gunpowder.

When the sounds in the courtyard ceased, it flowed with blood. The Third Elder was dead, unbeknownst of how he died, but his body was a horrific sight. Other elders had died too, including those who cast abstention votes; they were bombed to death while hiding in the house. The house had been riddled with holes and started burning from within.

This house would soon burn down along with the bodies within.

The old man stood quietly outside the courtyard gate, watching the blazing flames, reflected red on his face. His expression was stony like immutable granite. The night grew darker; the cold wind lifted his hair and robes, rendering him somewhat solitary and thin.

"Wasn’t it too harsh?" An elderly man with silver hair approached the old man, his eyes on the flames, asking in a low voice, a trace of sorrow flashing by.

"It had to be done. The longer it drags, the messier it gets. You know I’m not one for procrastinating; if I can solve it once and for all, why get tangled in it?" The old man awoke from his contemplation, replying in a low voice.

"Aren’t you afraid of being judged by descendants?"

"When they judge, I’ll be dead. Why fear a ghost?"

"The power of the sect was already inferior to Hong Sect; now, with forces reduced by a third, the child will find it even more burdensome." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Those who died deserved to die. I kept those who could aid him."

The elderly man nodded, letting the wind blow his silver hair. "The Elder Council is finished. How do you plan to handle it?"

"From now on, the Green Dragon Sect will have no Elder Council."

"Ha ha. Such boldness. Countless people wanted to see this done, even the Azure Dragon avoided it, and yet you achieved it overnight. Do you trust that kid so much? Aren’t you afraid he’ll go unchecked? You should know that youthful arrogance isn’t a good thing."

"I don’t trust him. It’s something he should’ve done himself. I helped him do it. The path ahead, he walks it himself, whether good or bad, it’s his choice. I’ve done all I can."

"Ha ha, quite the net you’ve cast. No wonder that kid’s hard-pressed."

After using violence to flatten the courtyard of the Elder Council, the cleanup work was handed to the Fifth Elder while Song Yun immediately led several black-clad men to the Second Elder’s residence. Initially, he was also a primary target, but unfortunately, they didn’t bring along any experts from the Shura Alliance, and now the sect’s forces couldn’t be moved recklessly. On one hand, they feared startling the target; besides, since this mission was against the Elder Council, who knows which side they would stand on? Suddenly pointing guns at them was possible. The old man was unwilling to take such risks. The forces dealing with the Elder Council were already insufficient, and splitting them into two groups would be more dangerous. So, they initially spared the Second Elder’s side.

When Song Yun arrived, the courtyard gate of the Second Elder’s residence was shut. Song Yun directly ordered the gate to be blown open, then a group of people surged inside. Surprisingly, they met no resistance; several people moved straight through.

"Grab a few people and ask them." Song Yun shouted loudly, sensing something was amiss.

"Yes." Several responded. As they were about to act, the disciples of the Second Elder came out with hands raised.

"Where’s your master?" Song Yun asked in a low voice.

"Don’t know. We don’t know where he’s gone," a young disciple replied tensely. They heard the earlier thunderous noise and knew the Great Elder had clashed with the Elder Council. Now Song Yun stormed in with his men, it was clear the victors were on the Great Elder’s side.

Song Yun commanded two men to search the house, watching the row of squatting people, "When did he disappear?"

"We didn’t see him all night; he wasn’t in his room. We didn’t mind, thinking he was at the Elder Council," a disciple answered softly.

Song Yun cursed inwardly; that old fox was truly sly. Not found at the Elder Council, now not in his quarters either, could it be they leaked news in advance? Impossible. Only four people knew about this before setting off. The old man, himself, the Fifth Elder, and Shadow were all unquestionably reliable.

Another possibility was that wretch was too cunning. The fox has three holes; since the assassination event, he has not rested in his own room. Now, with so much time passed, searching elsewhere was futile; surely he’s vanished into thin air.

While considering whether to pursue for a while, someone arrived to convey the Great Elder’s orders for Song Yun to return immediately to attend the Sect Leader succession ceremony.

Song Yun was taken aback. The old man was indeed in haste. A mix of emotions surged within him; the responsibility on his shoulders had just grown heavier.