Xiao Zhan's eyes, bloodshot from anger and unwillingness, stared intently at the empty wall, as if he wanted to bore two holes through it!
Hu Sha and Tie Bi stood by, watching their Dragon King's terrifying appearance, with his eyes red, veins bulging, and looking like a mad tiger.
The two exchanged a glance and began to loudly dissuade him, feigning concern.
"Dragon King! Please calm your anger; your health is paramount!"
Meanwhile, Tie Bi, with his unique, hoarse, and deep voice, calmly analyzed beside him:
"Dragon King, a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years."
"The most pressing task is to recuperate, preserve our strength, plan carefully, and act only after thorough deliberation."
The two of them played good cop, bad cop, working together in perfect sync.
They not only displayed their awe-inspiring loyalty and concern for the Dragon King,
but also very cleverly steered the conversation towards rest and recuperation, directions that would more easily lower Xiao Zhan's guard.
Listening to their loyal advice, the overwhelming rage in Xiao Zhan's chest finally subsided a little.
He wearily waved his hand, his voice hoarse as he said, "Alright, I understand. You two have worked hard too…"
Just as his emotions had somewhat calmed and he was in a state of extreme exhaustion and mental disorientation—
Tie Bi, seizing the opportunity, picked up the purple clay teapot from the table and refilled a cup of "Calming Tea" for Xiao Zhan, which emitted a faint, pleasant aroma.
Of course, it was mixed with Lu Cheng's specially formulated "Calming Powder," which was the remaining sedative used to incapacitate Qin Yu… He held the teacup with both hands and respectfully offered it to Xiao Zhan, saying in a steady voice:
"Dragon King, please have a cup of tea first to calm your mind."
"This tea was specially prepared for you. It has the effect of clearing the mind, calming the spirit, and nourishing qi. It should be beneficial for your current state."
Xiao Zhan was indeed mentally and physically exhausted at this moment, and his mouth was dry and his throat felt like it was on fire from his earlier outburst of rage.
He looked at the clear, bright tea offered to him, and then at their loyal and worried expressions.
In his heart, he even felt a faint, long-lost sense of relief and comfort that these two subordinates remained by his side during his critical moment of being abandoned by all.
He took the teacup directly, tilted his head back, and gulped it down!
Hu Sha and Tie Bi continued to attend to him cautiously.
One moment they were indignantly denouncing Ye Shuying's shameless betrayal, and the next they were thoughtfully discussing the next steps for their revenge with Xiao Zhan.
They used all their acting skills to thoroughly numb Xiao Zhan, stalling for time, waiting for the deadly drug to take full effect!
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed.
Xiao Zhan, who was listening to Hu Sha vividly fantasizing about how to capture and torture the traitorous Phantom a hundred times,
suddenly!
He felt something was wrong!
His head began to spin in waves!
His eyelids grew heavier and heavier!
His limbs gradually became disobedient!
They felt heavy, as if filled with lead!
His internal energy also seemed to be circulating poorly?
His heart suddenly tightened!
Not good!
He had been poisoned!
He abruptly lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes instantly becoming sharp as knives!
He stared intently at Hu Sha and Tie Bi in front of him!
His voice was slightly distorted by shock and disbelief!
"You… what did you two put in the tea?!"
He tried to stand up from the chair, wanting to resist!
But his body was completely unresponsive!
He only swayed once, then fell back into the chair with a "thud"!
Seeing this, Hu Sha and Tie Bi's "loyal" facade instantly vanished!
It was replaced by a cold indifference and extremely complex emotions, perhaps a feeling of shared sorrow for a fallen comrade, or perhaps the relief of finally being free.
They knew the drug had taken full effect.
Xiao Zhan, this once arrogant "fierce dragon crossing the river," was now a fish on the chopping block, to be butchered at will!
No more pretense was needed!
Hu Sha stepped forward, looked at Xiao Zhan, who was slumped in the chair, struggling even to lift a finger, and said slowly with a hint of reluctance in his tone:
"Xiao Zhan, even now, don't you understand?"
"You and Young Master Lu are not even in the same league."
"Give up."
Tie Bi, on the other hand, had cold eyes and a blank expression, as if looking at a dead man.
"Young Master Lu?"
When Xiao Zhan heard that name, which he hated to the core, and then connected it to his current miserable state of being at others' mercy, as well as Hu Sha and Tie Bi's abnormal expressions, which had done a complete one-eighty!
He understood everything!
His heart!
It was as if it had fallen into a ten-thousand-year-old ice cave!
A chilling coldness!
It shot straight from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head!
These two trusted subordinates, whom he once relied on as his right-hand men!
Had they also betrayed him?
He used the last shred of his strength, his trembling finger pointing at these two "traitors," his eyes, which were almost spurting blood from anger and despair, filled with disbelief!
"You two! You actually betrayed me? Betrayed the Dragon Hall?!"
Upon hearing this, Tie Bi's face showed no ripples, only looking at him with an almost pitying gaze. He slowly took out a satellite phone from his pocket and, in front of Xiao Zhan, dialed a number.
Soon, the call connected.
From the receiver came the Dragon Hall's Great Elder's old and authoritative voice, devoid of emotion.
"Tie Bi? How did things go?"
Tie Bi respectfully replied, "Reporting to Great Elder, everything went smoothly."
"Very good." The Great Elder's voice remained calm and unruffled, "Xiao Zhan knows too many secrets. To avoid unnecessary trouble, handle it cleanly and leave no loose ends."
"Yes, Great Elder."
Tie Bi hung up the phone and said to Xiao Zhan in a cold, matter-of-fact tone:
"Xiao Zhan, you heard it."
"We did not betray the Dragon Hall."
"It is the Dragon Hall that no longer needs you."
"Ah—!!! No—!!! This is impossible!!!"
Upon hearing this conversation, upon hearing that ruthless verdict, Xiao Zhan completely collapsed!
He let out a desperate, inhuman shriek of extreme despair!
But his roar sounded so weak and powerless.
Under the powerful effect of the sedative, his consciousness became increasingly blurred, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and his body completely lost all strength… Finally, carrying endless unwillingness, anger, and despair, he slumped like a pile of mud onto the cold seat, completely passing out… Just as Xiao Zhan completely passed out.
The room door was gently pushed open from the outside with a soft "creak."
A slightly slender figure appeared at the doorway.
He looked at the "Dragon King" Xiao Zhan, who was slumped unconscious in the chair inside the room.
In his eyes, cold flames, filled with the pleasure of revenge, instantly flickered!
The person who arrived was none other than—Qin Yu!