Protect Our Clan Leader

...

Return to Dragon City.

Zhao Clan's Main Residence.

As the only Second Class Prominent Family in Da Qian, the Zhao Clan's main residence covered a vast area. Not only was the choice of materials exquisite, but the architectural layout was also magnificent and imposing, fully demonstrating the grandeur of a noble house.

Since the beginning of summer, Return to Dragon City had been basking in brilliant sunshine. Today, however, was a rare occasion as a thunderstorm had arrived.

On the rooftops, the blue glazed tiles glistened more vibrantly after being washed by the rain, appearing lustrous and lavish.

At dusk, there was even a splendid sunset on the horizon.

Bathed in the glow of the sunset, the entire Zhao Clan's Main Residence seemed to be coated with a layer of soft, reddish light, adding a few touches of significance.

Deep in the Main Residence.

In a study room adorned with a plaque that read "Aspiration Endures Through Ages," a purple-robed elder stood before a bookshelf, engrossed in an ancient tome.

It was clear that his age was advanced, with his silvery white hair and the wrinkles on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes standing out under the gentle glow of the Fluorescent Stone Spirit Lamp.

Yet despite this, his dignified bearing and overwhelming presence made people dare not underestimate him. Where he stood, there was an air of authority filling the room.

This elder was the current First Ancestor of the Zhao Clan, also known as the An Duke, Zhao Bingsheng, Elder Bingsheng.

In his younger days, he too was a Great Heavenly Proud, sweeping his peers with hardly any defeats, his glory boundless. He had even defeated a Great Heavenly Proud from Kyoto who wanted to challenge talents in Shangjing City, bolstering the city's prestige mightily.

But now, he was already over sixteen or seventeen hundred years old. Even for someone in the Divine Power Territory, that age was approaching twilight. Therefore, he had gradually receded to the background and seldom managed affairs now.

However, as the reigning An Duke, even though he had retired, his prestige remained intact. Whenever the family faced major decisions related to its future development, his opinion still held a dominant position.

Suddenly.

The door to the study was lightly knocked.

A servant's voice came from outside, "Duke, Elder Hong Bo and Young Master Zhikun request an audience."

"What is it?"

An Duke Zhao Bingsheng put down the ancient book and casually asked.

"Not sure. Elder Hong Bo did not specify, only saying that it is a matter of great importance, and he implores the Old Ancestor to meet them," the servant replied.

An Duke slightly furrowed his brow.

He knew the temperament of Zhao Hongbo. As the Great Elder of the family and the current Prime Minister, Zhao Hongbo's status in the family was second only to his. Once he passed away, Hong Bo would be the most powerful Great Elder in the family, and even the new An Duke, due to his young age and lack of experience, might not surpass him in terms of prestige.

Therefore, they weren't actually close to each other.

If it weren't something truly important, he certainly wouldn't lower himself to actively seek an audience with him. In other words, if Zhao Hongbo did come, it must mean that something serious had occurred, not to mention that he brought Zhao Zhikun with him.

Thinking this, he felt a headache coming on, but still said, "Let them in."

Having said that, he turned around and seated himself behind the desk.

Moments later, Zhao Hongbo, still dressed in his court attire, entered with Zhao Zhikun. Clearly, they had come to see him as soon as they got home, so anxious that they had not even changed their clothes.

Just as they entered, Zhao Hongbo closed the study door and casually set up a restriction.

Zhao Zhikun, without saying a word, knelt down and kowtowed to An Duke, his voice tinged with a cry, "Zhikun pays respects to the Old Ancestor. I beg the Old Ancestor to save my life!"

An Duke's headache worsened as he rubbed his temples, "Don't rush to wail. State your business. What exactly happened?"

"It's like this..."

At this point, there was no point in hiding anything.

Zhao Zhikun knew that trying to keep secrets from An Duke was tantamount to seeking death. So he spelled out the situation in detail, then said, "Old Kui has been out of touch for several days now. Today, urgent news came from the secret lines at the border, saying that Meng Yuanbai captured the smuggling ship on the spot, with all the personnel being caught alive. I concluded that something must have happened to Old Kui; otherwise, that ship would never have reached the border."

"Old Ancestor, Kun'er has been played! Someone has set a trap and was just waiting for me. If the Old Ancestor doesn't intervene, I'm afraid this time I'm doomed!"

As An Duke listened to the first part, his expression grew unpleasant. By the time he heard the last part, he was so angry that he almost slammed his hand and shattered the desk, "You! What a piece of work you are! Daring to touch smuggling, has our Zhao Clan shortchanged you on Cultivation Elixirs or Spirit Food, that you resort to such desperate measures?!"

Zhao Zhikun's face changed slightly as he was rebuked, and after a long moment, he said, "Old Ancestor, this... the smuggling wasn't actually done by me, I was only helping to manage it..."

Upon hearing this, An Duke immediately realized what was happening, his expression changing, "Not you, then could it be..."

He glanced at Zhao Hongbo, only to see him with pupils shrinking and a look of surprise that couldn't be concealed, clearly also unaware of the situation until now.

But that also made sense. If Zhao Hongbo had known in advance, with his wiles and experience, he wouldn't have been so easily schemed against. The situation wouldn't have turned this bad.

An Duke pointed at Zhao Zhikun, took a long, deep breath, and barely managed to contain his emotions before gritting his teeth, "You really know how to bring honor to our Zhao Clan. Has Kang Commandery Prince lost his mind, daring to get involved in such matters?"