"What?"
"Failed?"
Upon hearing Shen Lang's words, Kong Wudao and Qi Tuojiang exchanged glances, disbelief etched in their eyes.
Who was Master Shanyuan? She was a supreme expert who had reached the Heaven Realm ten years prior, a pinnacle existence among human martial artists. How could she have failed to kill Shen Lang?
However, Shen Lang's presence here, alive and well, left no room for doubt. Even if Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao couldn't comprehend it, they knew Shen Lang's words held truth.
Indeed, Shanyuan must have failed. Otherwise, Shen Lang's head would have been presented to them by Qi Dingjiang.
"Shen Lang, what are you saying? We don't understand at all."
Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao were not fools. They knew the best course of action was to feign ignorance. After another glance at each other, they said, "Longze Mountain Villa is our private recreational retreat. You've barged in here inexplicably, spouting nonsense we can't comprehend. We have no idea what you mean."
"You don't understand?"
Seeing Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao's attempt to play dumb, Shen Lang chuckled. "You can deny it, but Qi Dingjiang has confessed everything. Now, I'm giving you two only one choice: release Yu Xiao and the others immediately."
"What Yu Xiao? Never heard of her. Don't know her. We have no idea what you're talking about."
Kong Wudao pointed at Shen Lang, his voice laced with anger. "Kid, we haven't settled our score with you from last time, and now you've come knocking on our door. Do you really think we're pushovers that you can just push around?"
"I apologize, I truly didn't mean it that way."
Shen Lang shook his head and replied, "In my eyes, you two aren't soft persimmons, but rotten ones. Shiny on the outside, but utterly decayed within. Dealing with you would only soil my hands."
"Kong Wudao, Qi Tuojiang, I'm speaking to you politely now, not because I fear you, but because I'm giving you a chance."
Shen Lang looked at the two and sneered, "You'd best be sensible. Otherwise, I'll throw you into the fishpond to feed the fish."
"Haha, Shen Lang, don't be so crude. They're both young masters from Longdu. Throwing them into a fishpond would be an insult."
As Shen Lang finished speaking, the driver's side door of the BMW opened, and the tall Song Shadao stepped out.
Song Shadao looked at Shen Lang and smiled. "These two young masters from Longdu are men of status. You should be more patient with them and less rough."
"Song Shadao? Is that you?"
Kong Wudao exclaimed in shock upon seeing Song Shadao.
"Kid, even your grandfather wouldn't dare address me so casually. Are you looking for a beating?"
Hearing Kong Wudao directly utter his name, Song Shadao's displeasure was palpable.
Seeing the dissatisfaction on Song Shadao's face, Kong Wudao felt his heart pound with dread.
He had been too shocked to think before speaking, and he regretted it immediately.
Indeed, given Song Shadao's standing, even his grandfather wouldn't dare to call him by name so casually. This wasn't about Song Shadao's status, but about him as a person.
The "Mad King of Killing," who had once commanded the respect of a generation, remained a nightmare in the minds of that era, even after all these years.
"Elder Song, please forgive my earlier impetuosity. I beg your pardon."
Kong Wudao was a shrewd individual. He immediately stepped forward and bowed to Song Shadao.
"It's good to admit your mistakes."
Song Shadao looked at the bowing Kong Wudao, then at Qi Tuojiang, and sneered. "I'm not here to waste my time with you. I'll give you one minute to bring Yu Xiao and her sister Yu Fei before me. Remember, only one minute."
"If Yu Xiao and her sister are not brought before me within a minute, then I regret to inform you that I will do one thing: throw both of you into the fishpond to feed the fish."
"How dare you speak to Young Master Kong and Young Master Qi like that?"
Hearing Song Shadao threaten Kong Wudao and Qi Tuojiang, Yu Linling, standing nearby, became furious and pointed at Song Shadao.
"Linling, stand down. Do not be disrespectful to Elder Song."
Kong Wudao quickly reprimanded Yu Linling. "This is Elder Song, the Director of the Military Security Department, the former Mad King of Killing. If he gets angry, crushing you would be as easy as crushing two ants."
He then added with a mocking smile, "Elder Song asked us to apologize, and we will. But regarding Yu Xiao and Yu Fei, we truly haven't seen them. We can't produce them."
"Can't produce them?"
Upon hearing Kong Wudao's words, Song Shadao moved like a phantom, appearing before Kong Wudao and grasping his throat. He sneered, "Do you think I came here to negotiate with you about releasing them?"
"I told you, I'm giving you one minute to bring the Yu sisters here. You've already wasted precious seconds. You'd best cherish the time I've given you, or you'll soon find out what it means to sink into a fishpond to feed the fish."
With that, Song Shadao shoved Kong Wudao away.
After this ordeal, Kong Wudao's face turned ashen, sweat beading on his forehead, his hands and feet trembling uncontrollably.
Just moments ago, he had truly felt the proximity of death. He believed that with a slight exertion of force from Song Shadao, he would have perished on the spot.
Song Shadao was no ordinary person to contend with, at least not for them.
With this realization, Kong Wudao looked at Qi Tuojiang, his gaze seemingly seeking his counsel.
"Young Master Kong, let's release them."
Seeing the fear in Kong Wudao's eyes, Qi Tuojiang spoke, "As long as we're alive, there will be opportunities later. Survival is the priority."
"Alright—"
Hearing Qi Tuojiang's words, Kong Wudao let out a sigh of relief and said to Yu Linling, "Linling, have Long Po bring them here quickly. Hurry, immediately, now."
"Yes, I'll call Long Po right away."
Aware of Song Shadao's terrifying power, Yu Linling immediately took out her phone to call Long Po.
Less than a minute later, Long Po arrived with Yu Xiao and Yu Fei, presenting them before Shen Lang.
Seeing Yu Xiao and Yu Fei unharmed, Shen Lang finally breathed a sigh of relief, a look of reassurance on his face.
Yu Xiao and Yu Fei, upon seeing Shen Lang there, were moved to tears.
"We've brought them. Can we consider this matter settled today?"
Kong Wudao asked Shen Lang after Yu Xiao and Yu Fei appeared.
"Settled?"
Shen Lang sneered. "What do you mean settled? This is just the beginning."
"What do you mean?"
Kong Wudao's expression froze upon hearing Shen Lang's words.
At this moment, Shen Lang leaped forward, his leg sweeping towards Long Po in a whip-kick.