611: Chapter 611 It's all luck!

"Last time was last time, this time is this time."

Xuanyuan Huo retorted solemnly.

"When you refused last time, I didn't push too hard because your personality was too arrogant; you would have easily blown up the Dragon Group."

"But what about now?"

"You even replaced the Emperor of Japan, and you're telling me you can't be the leader of the Dragon Group?"

Ye Chen rubbed his temples with a helpless expression. "Old man, can we stop this? When would I ever have the time to manage the Dragon Group's trivial matters?"

"How are they trivial matters?"

Xuanyuan Huo's voice suddenly became serious.

"The Dragon Group and Bureau 749 are vital forces protecting the Dragon Kingdom, serving as the first line of defense against supernatural events."

"As a citizen of the Dragon Kingdom, you have the responsibility and obligation to contribute to the nation!"

Ye Chen's lips twitched. "Are you trying to pin a moral obligation on me?"

"It's not about labels; it's about facts."

Xuanyuan Huo gave a dry cough.

"Besides, don't worry. Being the Dragon Group leader is just a title. You won't have to worry about the specifics; I'll handle them as your deputy."

"All you need to do is step in when the Dragon Kingdom faces danger."

Ye Chen remained silent for a few seconds.

Seeing his silence, Xuanyuan Huo added another remark.

"Furthermore, do you know that this counts as a Special Class Merit?"

"Special Class Merit?"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Yes! Special Class Merit!"

There was a hint of pride in Xuanyuan Huo's voice.

"Think about it: replacing the Emperor of Japan, controlling the Japanese Imperial Family, and subduing the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons..."

"Every single one of these is an earth-shattering event, isn't it?"

"In times of war, your contributions would be equivalent to reclaiming lost territory and expanding the borders!"

"A Special Class Merit is well-deserved!"

"Old man, you're making me feel a bit embarrassed with all this praise." Ye Chen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What kind of Special Class Merit is this? Don't forget, I have a mountain of enemies. I've even killed an elder from the One Clan, Three Sects, and Five Gates."

Xuanyuan Huo's laughter came to an abrupt halt.

Silence reigned on the other end of the line for several seconds.

Then.

"What did you say?"

Xuanyuan Huo's voice rose an octave, nearly piercing Ye Chen's eardrums. "An elder from the One Clan, Three Sects, and Five Gates? You killed one? No... who did you kill?"

Ye Chen counted on his fingers.

"Bai Yujing of the Bai Family, Liu Shenfeng of the Hehuan Sect, Zhou Xuanji of the Tianyi Sect, Gongsun Yunshang of the Ghost Sect, Uesugi Megumi of the Emperors Gate..."

He paused and thought for a moment. "And a few others whose names I can't remember. Anyway, they're all dead."

Xuanyuan Huo: "..."

Fine, fine, fine.

He had originally intended to thrust the position of Dragon Group leader onto Ye Chen.

And the result?

This kid had given him such a "surprise," offending so many powers within the Five Clans, Eight Sects, and Thirteen Gates.

One had to realize.

Killing an elder was a massive deal!

Listening to Xuanyuan Huo's breathing, Ye Chen reminded him with a smile, "Old man?"

"You brat..."

Xuanyuan Huo snapped back to reality. "Do you even know what the One Clan, Three Sects, and Five Gates represent?"

Ye Chen looked innocent. "I know. They're the top powers of the Kunlun Ruins."

Xuanyuan Huo was stunned. "You knew, yet you still killed them?"

"They attacked me first." Ye Chen spoke righteously. "Old man, you can't expect me to just stand there and take a beating, can you?"

Xuanyuan Huo took a deep breath.

"Fine, they're already dead, so there's no point talking about it."

"But you really are a killing machine. You slaughtered so many before I even noticed. What am I supposed to say to you?"

"Then don't say anything." Ye Chen chuckled.

"Bullshit!" Xuanyuan Huo cursed irritably. "Where are you now?"

"At the foot of Mount Fuji. I just finished digging up some treasure."

"What did you find?"

"A bronze key," Ye Chen said calmly. "Including the ones I already had, I have seven now."

The other end of the line suddenly went silent.

It was so quiet it seemed like the signal had been cut.

Ye Chen pulled the phone away to look; the call was still connected.

"Old man? Are you still there?"

"You... what did you say?" Xuanyuan Huo's voice cracked. "Seven? Keys to the bronze gate? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"You're not joking with me, are you?"

"When have I ever joked with you about something like this?"

Xuanyuan Huo completely lost his composure.

"Good heavens!"

"Other factions fight tooth and nail just to get one, yet they can't even find a trace of it!"

"But look at you, quietly getting your hands on seven?"

Ye Chen rubbed his nose. "Luck, it's all luck."

"Luck, my foot!"

Xuanyuan Huo cursed in exasperation.

"Do you take me for a three-year-old?"

"Those bronze keys are scattered all over the world. Many great powers have searched for decades without finding a single one, and you're telling me it's luck?"

Ye Chen chuckled. "Then maybe it's just destiny."

"Get lost!"

After cursing, Xuanyuan Huo couldn't help but laugh. "But seriously, you're something else."

"Seven keys... Tsk tsk. If those old fogies in the Kunlun Ruins found out, wouldn't they cough up blood from anger?"

Ye Chen shrugged. "That's why I don't plan on telling them."

"Right, keep it hidden and don't make a scene."

Xuanyuan Huo's voice grew serious. "The secrets behind the bronze gate involve too much. Unless absolutely necessary, they must not be exposed."

"I know."

Ye Chen nodded and added, "By the way, old man, I'm heading back today."

"Alright."

Xuanyuan Huo responded, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation. "Once you're back, we'll discuss how to deal with the One Clan, Three Sects, and Five Gates."

"Don't do that, old man."

Ye Chen waved his hand hurriedly. "I have no intention of discussing it with you. I'll handle my own affairs."

"Your business is the Dragon Group's business!" Xuanyuan Huo said righteously.

"But that's a private matter..."

"You are the leader of the Dragon Group, so it's the Dragon Group's business."

"I never said I'd take the leader's position!"

"You're taking it whether you like it or not!"

"Old man, aren't you just being unreasonable?"

"I am being unreasonable, so what can you do about it?"

Ye Chen: "..."

Fine.

When this old man decided to be unreasonable, he was even more shameless than Ye Chen.

As expected, the older ginger is spicier.

Ye Chen took a deep breath, too lazy to argue further, and said calmly:

"Alright, old man, I'm done talking. I'll be back in a bit."

"You keep the position of Dragon Group leader. Even without that title, I, Ye Chen, am a person of the Dragon Kingdom in life and will be its ghost in death."

Xuanyuan Huo was stunned for a moment.

Then.

He smiled.

"With that sentence from you, I can rest easy."

Ye Chen rolled his eyes.

Good grief.

This old guy was probably just talking big; I thought he was really going to force that position on me...

As it turned out.

As if he were a mind reader, Xuanyuan Huo suddenly asked, "You think I was just testing you?"

"Ahem." Ye Chen coughed twice and said nothing.

Xuanyuan Huo continued irritably, "If you want the position now, I can give it to you immediately!"

Ye Chen surrendered. "I get it, just please don't give it to me."

"Others fight for this position, yet you act like you're afraid of being stuck with it?" Xuanyuan Huo didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Ye Chen shrugged. "With great power comes great responsibility."

Xuanyuan Huo sighed.

"Fine, have it your way!"

"Hanging up now!"

Ye Chen said no more and hung up.

He turned around and found Yan Qingwu looking at him with a strange expression.

"What are you looking at?"

"You just said, 'a person of the Dragon Kingdom in life and its ghost in death'." Yan Qingwu tilted her head. "That was actually quite touching."

Ye Chen rolled his eyes. "Don't give me that."

Yan Qingwu curled her lips and said nothing more, but the curve of her mouth couldn't be suppressed.

Sometimes...

Aside from his love for causing trouble and his absolute talent for attracting disaster, this guy seemed... quite nice.

Hmm?

She actually thought he was nice?

Yan Qingwu shook her head frantically, as if trying to shake the thought that made her heart race out of her mind.

Oh god!

She must be going crazy!!!

Shuten-doji approached, carrying his Tachi, his crimson face filled with fawning.

"Master, where are we going next?"

Ye Chen glanced into the distance.

"You stay behind and help Daji manage the overall situation."

"As for me, I'm going back to the Dragon Kingdom."

Hearing this, Shuten-doji hurriedly bowed.

"As you command, Master!"

Ye Chen waved his hand, too lazy to watch the great demon play the fool, and turned to walk down the mountain.

Yan Qingwu followed. After a few steps, she couldn't help but look back at Shuten-doji before quickening her pace to catch up with Ye Chen.

"You know, Shuten-doji is one of Japan's strongest ghost kings, yet why does he act like a lapdog in front of you?"

Without looking back, Ye Chen said calmly, "Because he knows that wagging his tail in front of me means life, while baring his teeth means death."

Yan Qingwu thought about it and found it very logical.

"So you subdued Daji and Shuten-doji not with some contract, but with your fists?"

"How else?"

Ye Chen I turned my head and glanced at her..

"Did you expect me to reason with them? Or form a contract?"

"I don't know how to reason, and I want a contract even less..."

"After all, a contract only binds their bodies, not their minds."

Yan Qingwu looked curious. "If I had fists as strong as yours, could I make them wag their tails for me too?"

"Theoretically, yes."

Ye Chen nodded, then added, "But you don't."

Yan Qingwu's face instantly darkened.

"Ye Chen, if you don't speak, no one will think you're a mute!"

Ye Chen shrugged and quickened his pace down the mountain.

Yan Qingwu bit her lip and chased after him with her long legs.

Humph!

Just you wait!

One day, I'll make that slutty fox kneel down and apologize!!!