Chapter 1722 - 311: Two Dragons Over Nine Rivers

Other River Walkers of Buddhist Sect origin, who discovered what the Bodhisattva left behind, have come to Jiujiang and stepped into this wave, which is not surprising.

Zhao Shan'an: "How is your wife's health?"

Zhao Heming: "Father, thank you for your concern. Cui'er's health is still the same; she mainly worries too much about her son, reciting sutras and praying daily, which has depleted some of her Primordial Energy."

Zhao Shan'an: "Yi'er's return home is still a long way off; she can't go on like this forever, it's bad for her health."

At this moment, someone outside hurriedly reported:

"Master, Master!"

The person ran to the threshold of the ancestral hall and paused for a moment:

"Master, Third Master."

Zhao Shan'an: "What is the reason for such a frantic rush? This is not proper conduct."

"The Eldest Young Master has returned, the Eldest Young Master has returned!"

The Zhao family does have the oldest young master, but can't simply be called the Eldest Young Master; the only Eldest Young Master in the Zhao family is Zhao Yi, from the third house.

Even in distinguished families, they differentiate based on talent and ability, rather than clinging to the absurd hierarchy of status by birth order.

The bowed-down Li Zhiyuan could see the hands of the two people in front of him.

Upon hearing the report, Zhao Heming's hand unconsciously clenched, a subconscious defensive maneuver.

Zhao Shan'an's fingers lightly rubbed together, showing anticipation and excitement.

Zhao Yi has returned.

Not under the guise of Zhao Xu, nor intending to disguise himself; this time, he walks into the Zhao family in his true face.

In the past two days, as he delved deeper into understanding the current state of the Zhao family, his inner struggle and conflict became ever more intense.

He could cut off unnecessary emotional ties, treat the Jiujiang Zhao as just another wave easily, as he initially did, hiding his identity, infiltrating it, using his Zhao family identity to gain convenience and special privileges, planning to carve out the largest portion possible from this decaying flesh.

Yet the deeper he went, the harder it was to suppress the anxiety simmering in a corner of his heart.

This emotion reached its peak yesterday when Li Zhiyuan told him that the River Walker infiltrating the Zhao family this time was really strong.

Li Zhiyuan noticed, so after Tan Wenbin and the others alighted, the youth sat in the front passenger seat a while longer.

In the car, Zhao Yi kept talking, and Li Zhiyuan remained silent.

The youth knew Zhao Yi wasn't hoping for advice; he just needed the process to pass through, to say out loud his decision.

Watching the excited household members spread the word with delight, Zhao Yi's mouth curled into a smile.

This feeling wasn't present when he came in under the guise of "Zhao Xu."

The people he cares about are now in Nantong, very safe.

But the people he respects are still at home, at the highest position in the house, watching him.

Watching him mask himself to enter the home, watching him plot and manage cleverly, watching him come and go repeatedly just to gain a little benefit.

Sometimes, Zhao Yi couldn't distinguish which was his true self.

Just like before, when he repeatedly allowed himself to be manipulated by the surnamed Li, who bet that he wouldn't dare to gamble and couldn't afford to lose.

He bowed his head, bit a cigarette, lit it, took a deep inhale, and slowly exhaled.

Surnamed Li, from today onwards, can you be certain Zhao Yi can't afford to lose anymore?

Amidst the cheers of the household members, Zhao Yi walked inside.

The Emperor Fengdu's Whole Clan awaiting titles, the Bodhisattva's precautionary measures, other families' scrutiny, and the eyes gazing from above.

All are formidable figures, River Walkers pushed by the Jiang Shui, each one incredibly strong.

Yet it seems the gods above and the people below have forgotten, this Jiujiang produced a Dragon King!

This Zhao family is tainted; I've long prepared to clean it, this decaying flesh must be cut by me;

If it's all bad, rotten to the roots, then the old roots must be dug up by me, the fire should be ignited by me personally!

In front of the Dragon King Tablet,

How can I allow you lot to frolic around!

Zhao Yi's sudden return astonished the entire Zhao family; by tradition, the Zhao family core members from the outer house must be summoned.

A family feast, meant to cleanse and welcome the newcomer, was hence laid out.

The first house couple feigned illness but attended, the second house's Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou came, the "parents" of the third house came, the seclusive elder pair of the fourth house also attended.

No central seat; accurately speaking, Zhao Shan'an and Zhao Yi shared the central seat.

Outside, those of the third generation without privilege to sit at the table, yet many peers of Zhao Yi crowded at the door, eager to witness this genius's presence in the family today.

Among them, inevitably, are many imposters; while "parents" sit inside, they wish to see what intentions this Zhao family River Walker genius, suddenly back home, harbors, also wanting to ascertain whether he has discovered the Zhao family's changes.

Li Zhiyuan certainly wasn't qualified for the table; he stood at the door, pushed around in the crowd.

Well, he wasn't afraid of the pushing, after all, he's original, unafraid of breaking the mask.

At the dining table, Zhao Heming and Chen Cui'er from the third house are the most uncomfortable, akin to delighted and overwhelmed parents at their beloved son's sudden return unable to place their hands and feet.

Sitting by the dining table, Lin Shuyou gazed at Zhao Yi in astonishment, realizing that this was the head seat he longed for, and the confidence of someone facing all the family's elders with calm composure.

Zhao Yi stood up, held up his wine glass, and addressed everyone at the table:

"Come, it's rare for our family to be together, let's drink this glass!"

The entire table of "family" raised their glasses and drank together.

Truly rare reunion, in this entire family feast for a newcomer, besides himself, there's not a single Zhao by name.

While finishing the wine in his glass, Zhao Yi glanced at Li Zhiyuan standing outside the door.

Their eyes met.

...

In the mountain, the Zhao Family Ancestral Mansion.

In the vast, dim room unseen by sunlight, only a Taishi Chair and a coffin were placed, appearing quite empty.

An elderly figure sat in the Taishi Chair, the face covered in brown spots.

A kerosene lamp stood on the elderly person's knee, devoid of kerosene, yet a faint flame continued to burn.

It...he was consuming the last bit of his life essence, then he would lie in the coffin, fall into a deep sleep, not to awaken unless summoned.

At this moment, the elderly person slowly opened his eyes, the candle flame on his knee flickered.

"Clack clack..."

A sound of opening came from somewhere high above his head, the diminutive Second Elder appeared above, holding a white lantern.

From his vantage point looking down, it was as deep as a tomb.

"Chief, I thought you had left, came specifically to seal the tomb for you."

Below in the Taishi Chair, the Great Elder's hoarse voice emerged:

"I just had a dream."

"What kind of dream?"

"A dream exactly the same as last time.

I dreamt again of...

Two dragons, flying side by side, over Jiujiang."