Dragon Tamer

The armored man and woman listened intently to Fang Niannian’s words, their gazes fixed on her.

“What kind of joke is this; the City Ownership Deed for this place was sold long ago. To think you can simply waltz in here with some paperwork and try to deceive us, you’ve truly come to the wrong place!” The woman holding the helmet said coldly, her words already laced with a hint of murderous intent.

“We come from the Imperial City.” Zhu Minglang stepped forward, sizing up the couple’s attire, as well as the group of armored soldiers behind them, and then said, “This house used to belong to you, right? Are you residents of Runyu City?”

The armored man appeared more amicable, as he stepped forward and began to explain, “Runyu City was built by our forefathers. At that time, he led a Strong Army, which eradicated a group of Mourning Dragons that infested this place and built the first watchtower on the Tea-colored Ground of Runyu City. That battle shook the Ten Nations.”

“I’ve heard that the original builder of the city was called the Hu Clan. Are you members of the Hu Clan?” Hao Ye inquired.

Hao Ye had gathered some information about this place during his visits to nearby villages and stations.

“Yes, this is my sister Hu Bailing, and I am Hu Chongming. We siblings were originally the heirs to Runyu City, but due to various reasons, our forebears were compelled to sell Runyu City to the Godly Mortal Academy. However, normally, the City Ownership Deed for Runyu City should be in the hands of Godly Mortal Academy; why then is it in your possession? If you are not fraudsters, could you let us see the City Ownership Deed? It should bear my father’s signature.” The man who claimed to be Hu Chongming asked politely.

Since Fang Niannian had already mentioned the deed, Zhu Minglang saw no reason to hide it, after all, the document was practically worthless; in this violent, cutthroat place, who cared about a single piece of paper?

Zhu Minglang produced the deed for Runyu City.

According to the Hu Clan man’s account, it must have been the Godly Mortal Academy that placed this deed into the mechanism city as a resource amidst the growing number of disciples from various powerful factions.

The deed was presented, and the Hu Family siblings immediately leaned over to examine it. After they looked it over, their expressions changed dramatically!

The siblings exchanged glances, and after a long pause, Hu Bailing looked at Zhu Minglang and the others in astonishment and said, “Are you really the City Lords appointed by the Imperial commission?”

“This Runyu City Ownership Deed has also been verified with the Imperial Dynasty’s seal.” A man with a handlebar mustache exclaimed in surprise. He was the only one not wearing armor, and his attire suggested he was the Think Tank.

“Were you sent here by the Imperial Dynasty?” Hu Chongming also noticed the additional official seal on the deed.

The deed was genuine, bearing their father’s signature and their own thumbprints.

Yet they never imagined that this document would have wound up in the Imperial City.

“You might say that.” Zhu Minglang replied.

“So, there you go, we told you. Now it’s your turn to leave.” Fang Niannian wasn’t one to let go when she had the advantage.

Hu Bailing and Hu Chongming wore embarrassed expressions.

Runyu City hadn’t had a true master for such a long time, with many of its lands seized by powerful factions as their territories. Indeed, the Hu siblings had been the rightful owners of this estate, but after several conflicts, the final ownership of Runyu City naturally fell to the victors and those who held the deed.

“There is a large area of ruined houses next to this courtyards; they could be livable after some cleaning up. If you don’t mind, you could live there.” Zhu Minglang suggested.

“Young master, the deed no longer holds much importance. Moreover, this place is far more dangerous than you could imagine. Coming here to assume the role of City Lord is tantamount to sending yourself to the gallows, especially with so few of you…” Hu Chongming’s tone grew even more polite.

“Speak your mind.” Zhu Minglang said.

“Why don’t you sell that contract book to me? Indeed, the elders in our clan were shortsighted when they sold the city, but who would have thought that later it would be trampled by various nations and turn into such a mess? For years, my sister and I have been recruiting soldiers and buying horses, hoping to regain control of Runyu City. If you sell the deed to us, the Hu Family can take over with legitimacy, which will also be more helpful for the future reconstruction of the livelihood of the people,” Hu Chongming stepped forward and earnestly said to Zhu Minglang.

“You plan to take the city?? With just this handful of people??” Fang Niannian glanced over, from the siblings to the armored soldiers following behind them, there were only a hundred or two hundred people!

A hundred or two hundred people, how to take a city?

She had just walked along the road from Runyu City, and saw the forces in different outfits stationed on both sides of the streets, many of them numbering in the thousands. If not for being aware of the chaotic battlefield here in advance, Fang Niannian would have thought she had entered an army barracks city!

“Although we are few in number, every single one of us is an elite. Besides, even to take Runyu City, one needs to do it step by step. First, we need to occupy a piece of land within the city, then slowly drive out those insignificant forces. We’ve devised a long-term plan, and this is just the first step,” said Hu Chongming.

“What about the City Lord’s Seal? How do you plan to take that back?” Zhu Minglang asked.

“Of course, once we take the position of City Lord, if it does not change hands within a month, we can legitimately ask the Godly Mortal Academy to return it. The Godly Mortal Academy is not like those lawless warlords, I believe they will give it back to us,” Hu Chongming said earnestly.

Zhu Minglang gave Hao Ye a look.

Hao Ye looked perplexed, not knowing what his junior martial uncle meant with that glance.

Zhu Minglang rolled his eyes; Hao Ye was seriously too rigid!

His gaze turned to Nan Yuso. Sure enough, the Dragon Shepherd’s younger aunt was intelligent enough to understand Zhu Minglang’s intention right away. She blinked her big eyes and whispered, “Rather than us being the City Lords, it’s better to support someone else to be the City Lord.”

Governing and managing were indeed very troublesome tasks, especially since they had no footing in this place.

Rather than conquering the city and taking off with the City Lord’s Seal, it would indeed be more comfortable and proper to choose someone to take the position while they assisted from behind the scenes.

“We won’t sell the deed, but we can trade it for the City Lord’s Seal,” Zhu Minglang said.

“Brother, the City Lord’s Seal is actually just a symbolic, expensive collectible. What use do you have for it?”

“We have our uses,” Zhu Minglang replied.

“But to take Runyu City, it could take at least a year, or at most three years. Brother, you might as well hand over the deed to us first. With it, the Hu Family can fly the flag of rebuilding Runyu City to expand. That might speed things up,” said Hu Chongming.

“No problem, we can help you, and it won’t take that long,” Zhu Minglang said.

“Ah?? But your group only has…” Hu Chongming started counting then quickly completed it, saying, “You only have five people.”

“Seven!” Fang Niannian corrected, huffing with irritation.

“I am a Dragon Shepherd, and they are members of my Dragon Shepherd Team,” Zhu Minglang said with a smile.

“That’s quite a shabby Dragon Shepherd Team…” Hu Bailing remarked with disdain.

“I am the rightful City Lord, holding the contract book, and your family built this city, longing to reclaim everything you’ve lost. Why let those murky, smoggy things linger within the city?” Zhu Minglang said.