Chapter 760: Chapter 49 Sect Leader of Five Dragon Sect Chapter 760: Chapter 49 Sect Leader of Five Dragon Sect Hong Liangyu did not carry a torch and fumbled his way to the mouth of Living Fish Valley, thinking he should hurry back to his brother and sister-in-law’s home, and treat everything that happened tonight as just a dream. Suddenly, he sensed vague figures ahead, torches flickering like dragons, colorful banners shooting up, horses neighing, and Living Fish Valley was surrounded by a watertight siege, in stark contrast to the distant guards of the Xiang Army, who were shouting loudly at each other.

Hong Liangyu had just heard the newcomers shouting phrases like, “The Tianbao Dragon Head himself is here, how can there be any doubt?” Curiosity piqued, he peered through the darkness and saw a grand canopy carriage surrounded by the five-colored banners. Behind the canopy, there was a skinny figure sitting down, too indistinct to make out clearly.

“Hmm?”

The figure seemed to have noticed something and looked up in Hong Liangyu’s direction.

Hong Liangyu felt a stabbing pain in his eyes and his body shivered uncontrollably, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. He couldn’t help but cry out in pain.

“Who’s there!”

Noticing something amiss, a yellow-faced man standing next to the carriage bellowed and snatched a black short halberd from his waist, hurling it toward the shadows. Hong Liangyu, still feeling dizzy and his vision blurring, was unable to dodge in time. Struck in the shoulder, he immediately lost all sensation in half of his body, and was sent flying about ten meters by the force of the blow. It wasn’t until he slammed into the rock wall that he finally managed to stop, horrified. The power behind the halberd was potentially greater than that of the official army’s solid iron cannons. In his life, Hong Liangyu had seen only a few among the Quanlang Type next to Treasure Ship King Lin Ajin, possessing such strength.

The yellow-faced man stood tall, peering into the shadows again and again. His eyesight was ordinary; he couldn’t make out whether the person in the shadow was injured or dead. Suddenly, a gust of wind arose in the darkness, and the bloodstained halberd flew back, its whistling sound piercing the air. The yellow-faced man uttered a cry and hastily bent backward into an iron bridge move to dodge. The flying halberd grazed his nose and, like a cannonball, landed back inside the canopy.

“Sect Leader!”

Before the crowd could even begin to cry out in shock, the short halberd quietly landed in the hands of the person inside the canopy, without stirring the slightest ripple.

“Bold madman, how dare you sneak attack our Sect Leader!”

“The Xiang Army is making a move!”

As tensions rose and the atmosphere teetered on the brink of explosion, Hong Liangyu loudly said, “I am not a member of the Xiang Army. It was you who first attacked and injured someone. I was merely returning the favor.”

The yellow-faced man drew a simple knife and pointed it towards the shadow: “Reveal yourself, rat, and answer me.”

“Liangyu, is that you, Liangyu!”

A familiar voice came from the opposing crowd. A man with a square face squeezed through the crowd and called out to Hong Liangyu with surprise and joy.

“Brother Youfu?”

The man was Sun Youfu. Not long ago, Hong Liangyu and his three old comrades from the Red Flag Gang had been discussing joining the Five Dragon Sect Church, and now they had encountered each other.

With this in mind, Hong Liangyu’s expression relaxed somewhat and he walked out of the shadows, clutching his bleeding shoulder.

“Liangyu, it really is you! Hahaha.”

Sun Youfu gestured with his hands towards the yellow-faced man: “Yellow Dragon Envoy, this is the Hong Liangyu I told you about. The high-spirited ghost of Red Flag. At sea, he commands large boats, expert in artillery, archery, and steering, a true hero!”

The yellow-faced man’s expression was solemn: “Even if he’s a savior of the Red Flag, assaulting the Sect Leader is a capital offense.”

The person in the carriage suddenly let out a long laugh: “Why get angry, Yellow Dragon Envoy? This man is meant to take his position in the western position of Red Gold, and ought to be the Red Dragon Envoy for our Five Dragon Sect Church, most auspicious.”

He lifted the canopy, revealing a face Hong Liangyu knew all too well, it was none other than Tianbao.

Hong Liangyu was momentarily lost in thought.

“Tianbao” his eyes faintly sparkled as he nodded, “I remember you. You’re Daimyo Hong Liangyu, the one who followed by the side of White Flag’s Dragon Head Cha Xiaodao, everyone calls you Qingshizai. I’m not mistaken, am I? You just tested me because you doubted my identity?”

With a mix of confusion and excitement in his heart, Hong Liangyu was no simple-minded peasant or buffoon; he had also seen mountain spirits and strange demons transform into humans, leaving traces to be found. Even unable to withstand a few shoves from ordinary people without revealing their true forms, quite unlike the person before him now.

Hua Gai initially did not believe in the nonsense about the Five Dragon Sect, convinced that the Sect Leader was an impostor and held hostility in his heart. His gaze was naturally scrutinous, but now seeing the man’s visage, which truly belonged to Tianbao Dragon Head, and hearing him correctly speak of his own background, how could it be fake?

However, his speech and demeanor were nothing like the valiant Tianbao Dragon Head of the past. Nevertheless, Hong Liangyu had another thought: the Tianbao Dragon Head had been through deep cover and exposure over the years, and it was rumored that he had indulged in obscene rituals and witchcraft, which could inevitably cause changes in personality. For a moment, he couldn’t quite determine the truth.

But there was one thing Hong Liangyu was sure of.

The person before him was no ordinary Jianghu swindler. If he wasn’t the Tianbao Dragon Head, then he must be a powerful and immensely evil demon!

Hong Liangyu knelt on one knee, and as before, performed a salute: “Hong Liangyu pays his respects to Tianbao Dragon Head.”

He suddenly raised his head, “Tianbao Dragon Head once ordered the old members of Red Flag to scatter across the land and wait for the command. Now that the Dragon Head is unharmed, why not call back leaders like Chaoyi and Xiaoyi, instead of starting anew on your own?”

Before Tianbao had the chance to speak, a person dressed as a Taoist Boy replied in a shrill voice: “Xu Chaoyi is ungrateful and disregards the Sect Leader’s commands, he even killed the Five Dragon’s Envoy. One day, the Five Dragon Sect Church will surely rip out his heart and liver to sacrifice to Heaven!”

“Impossible! Chaoyi, our great commander, has been loyal to Red Flag for generations; he would never betray Tianbao Dragon Head!”

Hong Liangyu instinctively argued.

Tianbao stood with his hands behind his back, “There’s no need to mention the past. Perhaps there’s some misunderstanding between me and Chaoyi, which I’m sure can be clarified if there’s a chance someday.”

“How did you escape from the tight encirclement that day, Dragon Head, and how did you become the leader of this Five Dragon Sect?”

Tianbao patiently answered, “I was gravely injured, but fortunately, I was taken into the Heavenly Mother Ashram, where I was thoroughly taught and learned the Five Dragon Filthy Traces of Vajra Secret Method. I’ve returned to the mortal realm with the Heavenly Mother’s mandate to recreate the universe and stabilize the populace. Liangyu, since we’re fated to reunite, why not simply join my Five Dragon ranks?”

Hong Liangyu looked around, the black mass of followers stared directly at him, giving rise to an indescribable irritation. He shook his head, “I’ve come to Living Fish Valley only to look for someone, and have no other intentions. Liangyu has made up his mind not to meddle with Jianghu affairs, but only to seek a peaceful life. The former Tianbao Dragon Head, ah, you yourself had promised, allowing members of Red Flag to return home and retire from Jianghu if they wish. Tianbao Dragon Head, known for your wise and decisive nature, would surely not forget this matter.”

“So you’re saying you don’t wish to join my Five Dragon Sect Church?”

Tianbao looked up at the moon, his expression indiscernible for a moment.

A chill ran through Hong Liangyu’s heart. Whether this person was the Tianbao Dragon Head or not, he was clearly a formidable opponent far beyond his own capability. If he refused to let him go…

“Ah, well then.”

Tianbao sighed and said with a smile, “Liangyu, it’s been a long time, we should have caught up, but now is not the time. Since you don’t wish to get involved in Jianghu matters, I won’t force you. What happens here no longer concerns you. You may go now. However, we share a bond of kinship, and I have some words of advice for you. I see an aura of disaster looming on your forehead; great misfortune will befall you soon. I give you three pieces of advice: upon returning home, do not meet with officials, do not meet with foreigners, and do not meet with children. By this, you may keep your life safe.”

Hong Liangyu hastily bowed his hands, “Your advice, Dragon Head, Liangyu will keep in mind. I shall take my leave now.”

With that, he hurried off as though afraid that Tianbao would change his mind, threading his way between two groups of people and swiftly disappearing into the distance. After covering a few miles, Hong Liangyu still felt a prickling sensation on his back, and occasionally glanced behind him to find only darkness, yet Tianbao’s smiling face seemed to linger before his eyes.