“Speak!” Azure Dragon frowned again.
“Firstly, the old master asked me to tell you that you have one month to resign from all positions in the War Department and return to Forgiving Village!” Joe Dixon spoke.
At this point, he subconsciously glanced at Billy before continuing, “Secondly, Forgiving Village will not participate in external conflicts. The old master wants you to withdraw from tomorrow’s competition! Unless, tomorrow, you publicly announce your resignation from the War Department position and participate in the competition as a wandering cultivator!”
“Tsk tsk, your Forgiving Village’s old man really thinks highly of himself? Who does he think he is? He should take a look at himself before talking, he…” Stout began to mock.
Ivy slapped Stout on the back of the head to stop him.
“Shut up!” Ivy gave him a stern look.
“Why did you hit me again!” Stout pouted.
“Stout, the ‘old man’ in your mouth is Azure Dragon’s grandpa. Aren’t you afraid Azure Dragon will beat you up?” Night Orchid smiled and said.
She had heard some rumors about Azure Dragon’s family affairs. Azure Dragon didn’t actually have a falling out with his family. Back then, he had left home in a fit of anger, and his relationship with the people in Forgiving Village was not as estranged as Stout thought.
“Uh…” Stout’s mouth twitched, seemingly understanding, and he quickly shook his head, “I didn’t say anything just now!”
Night Orchid and Frostblade both suppressed smiles.
“Go back and tell him that anything I do represents me personally and has nothing to do with Forgiving Village!” Azure Dragon looked at Joe Dixon and spoke in a determined voice.
“In addition, I was born a member of Glavale’s War Department, and I will be a ghost of the War Department when I die. No one can make me leave here!”
“Young Master, Forgiving Village has ancestral rules that the descendants should not participate in worldly conflicts. If you persist, I’m afraid…” Joe Dixon continued.
“Enough, you just take my words back!” Azure Dragon waved his hand, “No need to send us off!”
“Young Master…” Joe Dixon wanted to say more.
“Second Elder, let’s go. Grandpa’s words have been conveyed to him. Whether he listens or not is his own business!” Robin Dixon interrupted Joe Dixon.
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the gate of the courtyard. For him, he didn’t want Azure Dragon to return to Forgiving Village. It would be better if Azure Dragon never came back with the talent he displayed; otherwise, he might be overshadowed in the future.
Joe Dixon exhaled once again.
“Young Master, you better seriously consider the old master’s words. He is doing it for your own good!” he said. After saying that, he turned to Billy and slightly bowed, “Commander Gardner, sorry to bother you. See you!”
“See you!” Billy squinted his eyes slightly.
“Azure Dragon, judging by the old man’s appearance, it doesn’t seem like a joke. One month later, won’t your grandfather send someone to tie you back?” After the two left, Black Tortoise asked.
“He won’t!” Azure Dragon shook his head and turned to walk into the house.
“Boss, what should we do about this matter?” Black Tortoise continued to ask Billy.
“What to do?” Billy asked.
“Uh…” Black Tortoise twitched his mouth, “Boss, aren’t you worried that Forgiving Village will really send someone to take Azure Dragon back?”
“You’re overthinking it!” Billy replied casually.
“Billy, the people from Forgiving Village probably didn’t ask Azure Dragon to leave the War Department for no reason. There might be some reasons behind it,” Ivy said after some thought.
“Boss, is there a possibility that those people from the super sects have contacted Forgiving Village?” Night Orchid asked on the side.
“Hmm!” Billy nodded thoughtfully, “That’s a possibility!” After a brief pause, he waved his hand to the crowd, “Alright, rest early, we still have to continue the competition tomorrow!”
Ten minutes later, Billy came to Azure Dragon’s room. The two sat at the stone table in the small courtyard behind the room, and Azure Dragon brewed a pot of tea.
“How about going back and taking a look after the Dragon-Phoenix Ranking competition?” Billy picked up the teacup and took a sip.
“No need!” Azure Dragon shook his head in response. “There’s nothing major.”
“Have you ever thought about why your family now wants you to leave the War Department?” Billy asked again.
“It’s probably because someone from the super sects went to Forgiving Village,” Azure Dragon responded. “However, from what I know about my grandfather, it’s unlikely that he was threatened. It’s more likely that he doesn’t want to get involved in these disputes.”
“Hmm!” Billy nodded slightly and continued, “After the competition is over, find some time to go back and understand what your family really thinks.”
“Okay!” Azure Dragon agreed, “Boss, don’t worry about this. Nothing will happen. I can handle it!”
“Hmm.” Billy nodded again and asked, “Is your father out of seclusion?”
“No!” Azure Dragon shook his head and pouted, “Who knows if he’s really in seclusion or deliberately avoiding people and doesn’t want to come out!”
“You haven’t seen him in almost three years, right?” Billy smiled faintly. “This time, go to where he’s in seclusion, say a few words between father and son, and it will be fine.”
“I’m too lazy to see him!” Azure Dragon pouted again.
“He is your father!” Billy put down the teacup and gazed into the distance with a thoughtful expression. “In one’s life, don’t leave too many regrets…”
“Got it!” Azure Dragon looked at Billy and knew that he was suggesting that he should visit his parents.
“Boss, do you want to take some time to visit the Stuart Family? There should be someone there that you care about, right?” Ivy suggested.
“Let’s talk about it later!” Billy withdrew his thoughts and stood up. “Alright, rest early. We have to continue the competition tomorrow!”
After saying that, he turned and left.
The next morning at nine o’clock, Billy and the others arrived at the competition venue.
The rules for today’s matches were the same as yesterday, organized from lower to higher cultivation levels. After a brief introduction from Otis Hum, the competition officially began.
There were a total of six participants who were Novice War God-Emperors. Apart from Stout and Azure Fang, there were two young masters from prominent families and two outstanding individuals from the ancient martial arts world.
After the six participants drew lots, Azure Fang stepped onto the first stage, facing one of the individuals from the ancient martial arts world. Stout went to the second stage, where he encountered the young master from the Harding clan named Saul Harding in the first round.
“How coincidental, huh?” Stout looked at the opponent, a slight smile playing on his lips. “You should be the last so-called genius hidden by the Harding clan, right?”
“You surprised me by breaking through to the War God-Emperor realm so quickly!” Saul Harding didn’t respond to Stout’s words. He glanced at him coldly and continued, “But this works out perfectly!”
“Commander Gardner killed so many members of my clan and even crippled the arms of Pop and Archibald. Today, I’m gonna make you pay back!”
“Oh! Does that mean you’re not planning to surrender voluntarily?” Stout continued to inquire.
“Humph! Arrogant ignorance!” Saul Harding snorted. “I hope you won’t surrender later!”
After saying that, a powerful aura erupted from him, clearly displaying his cultivation at the War God-Emperor junior level.