Chapter 84 - Son of the Dragon

More of Wang Weimin's henchmen swept in.

Song Luli instinctively raised her hands in the air. She was breathing hard through her nose.

Xun Zichen stepped in front of Su Xiang.

Most of the men were wearing masks over their faces. They pointed their guns at the four of them, maintaining their positions without firing off anything.

A man walked steadily, slipping through the men towards them. His lips curved with triumph. He held a cruel and intimidating demeanour as his cold eyes gazed at them.

He wore a long black trench coat over his dark clothing. He had his hands in his pockets.

The man had black hair and pale-green eyes; a tattoo of a Phoenix inked on his neck, from collarbone to chin on one side of his body.

Xun.

Xun Zichen held Su Xiang's hand firmly. She looked at him, visibly aware of who the man in front of them was — his uncle. But would he recognize his nephew? Unlikely, Su Xiang thought. But, still, they were in deep shit.

Long Jie recognized the man before him. He knew the Phoenix tattoo, and the Flock, as one of the Underworld Factions. There were many organizations, but Xun was by far one of the most dangerous. Knowing his father went missing was horrifying, but the man in front of him terrified him more than anything.

The Longs, also the Dragons disbanded years ago, but a few members lurked now and then, who is Long by name but no longer associated with his immediate family. But Xun has always stuck around because when burned, they arise from the ashes.

The man approached Long Jie with a wicked smile.

Long Jie furrowed his brows. He was breathing hard, but his expression remained formidable.

"Long Jie, son of the Dragon?" The man questioned.

Long Jie nodded.

"Xun Yaozu," replied the man, introducing his name.

"Son of the Pheonix," responded Long Jie, referring to him.

Xun Yaozu smiled broadly, nodding.

"What do you want?" Long Jie questioned.

"I was sent here," Xun Yaozu replied, gazing around the dirty, abandoned building.

"By whom?" Long Jie replied.

"It doesn't matter," Xun Yaozu responded.

Long Jie scoffed, daring himself, and surely gambling his life by offending Xun Yaozu. "Someone sent you?" Long Jie continued. "Apologies, but I thought leaders of the Underworld don't listen or abide by anyone."

Xun Yaozu folded both his arms behind his back, standing tall, at the same height as Long Jie. "I am merely assisting a friend who offered a generous reward to terminate Long Huojin. Then, after, I shall do as I please."

Xun Yaozu spoke low, nearly quiet, but it sent chills throughout their bodies by how stilted and resigned he sounded.

"Give up your father," said Xun Yaozu, "or your friends will suffer."

Long Jie was conflicted. He stood between Xun Yaozu and his father while shielding Song Luli.

He glanced at his father. His shirt was torn, revealing his serpent tattoo on his arm. But a Dragon laid on his chest, twin to Long Jie's. Long Jie remembered the day he got it with him at a tattoo shop, not far from their home.

Long Huojin's hair was still jet-black, but his hair had started to pepper in gray. His eyes were a bright blue, full of life and no regrets.

"It's all right, Son. Take your friends and leave me," Long Huojin told him, demanded him.

Long Jie curled his fingers.

Song Luli grasped his arm.

Long Jie wasn't willing to endanger the Song family; after all, they had nothing to do with the old feud between families. Right? But his father would want Long Jie to leave him behind. But how could he?

Long Jie backed away slowly.

"Take him," he told Xun Yaozu.

Xun Yaozu smiled. "Clever man," he said.

Xun Yaozu stepped closer to Long Huojin, who was panting hard. Long Jie looked away, his expression hurt and grave.

He closed his eyes; his breathing deepened.

Glass shattered, and entering through was men Long Jie had never seen before. They scoped the area, and the bloodbath began.

"Roll on the ground!" warned Xun Zichen.

The four of them ducked to the ground when gunshots began to fire through on both sides. They separated by rolling behind barrels and cargo. Long Jie bolted towards his father, untying the ropes that kept him bound. He then dragged his father out of the way, while Xun Zichen covered him.

Xun Yaozu was in the midst of the crossfire when he noticed a young man was taking down his men with precision. He strode towards Xun Zichen, quickly tackling him on the ground. Xun Zichen fell on the ground unexpectedly, and he recovered by standing up immediately.

His uncle circled his neck in a chokehold, lifting him up. Xun Zichen dropped his weight, carrying Xun Yaozu over his shoulders, slamming him on the ground.

Xun Zichen regained his breath, winded. Xun Yaozu faced him; his expression cold and brutal.

Xun Zichen positioned himself, preparing to fight when Su Xiang grabbed a metal bar and hit Xun Yaozu on the head. He fell to the floor, unconscious.

Su Xiang grabbed Xun Zichen's hand, and they both sprinted out of the building. They caught up to Song Luli and Long Jie, who was racing away with an injured Long Huojin between their arms.

Xun Zichen ran up to Song Luli, taking her place so that they could go faster.

Across the field stood a man in front of a single chopper. Men surrounded him, but they didn't fire at them.

Song Luli ran up to the man and lept in her father's arms.

Song Sheng's team lifted Long Huojin into the small chopper. "We're going to air-lift him to the hospital. The rest of you must run while I take care of things here."

"I want you to come home, father!" Song Luli replied.

"Go!" Her father demanded her. "And I will talk to you about how reckless all of you have been!"

At that, Song Luli ran away with the others. Zhang Enyu and Song Meiling were already in the van waiting for them, and they sped off.