BXBX NOVEL Chapter 628: 629 Sea Clan Conference
“Guys, my eyes aren’t deceiving me, right? Why is the newcomer wearing a red prison uniform?”
“Damn, that’s a death row inmate!”
“Zhang Dabao, this jinx, brought a death row inmate over!”
“A death row inmate coming to the dungeon and there wasn’t any prior whisper? Could it be that the newcomer is some big shot?”
The smiles on the faces of the crowd stiffened. Prisoners in red uniforms were not the kind they could afford to mess with; they were just involved in minor troubles, while those were real threats to life, utterly in a different world.
It seemed their boss was likely to run into big trouble today.
“Cough cough, well, I can get out in two months, everyone understands that, so I’m not staying here, guys, take care of yourselves.”
“Me too, even though I still have half a year before I can leave, my unwed wife has been waiting for me, I can’t die here; you guys hold on, I’m retreating first.”
“I’m outta here; tell the boss I’m not following him anymore.”
Among the crowd, several prisoners felt their legs go weak and turned to run away, but their calves cramped involuntarily, heavy as if filled with lead and unable to take a step forward.
While they were talking, Li Xiaobai had already arrived at the cave entrance with Zhang Dabao. In front of them were prisoners in uniform yellow uniforms, and there were no dangerous figures in sight.
“Where’s Dao Zu? Tell him to come out!”
“My lord has something to say!”
Zhang Dabao was full of arrogance, giving orders, acting like he was the one in charge. As soon as he opened his mouth, he called for the old boss to come out and speak.
The prisoners obviously knew that the man was a small character who had struck it lucky, tagging along with the big shot in the red uniform, climbing the social ladder.
Hence, they didn’t dare to offend him and glanced at Li Xiaobai apprehensively, quickly responding, “The boss is inside the cave; we’ll call him out right now!”
“What’s with all this noise?”
“Where’s Dabao? Have you brought the person back?”
“How did finding a newcomer take so long? If I discover you’re playing tricks behind my back, you’re dead meat!”
Just then, the door of the cave opened, and a fat man in a gray prison uniform walked out, swaying side to side, with a face full of fat and shining with grease, looking displeased at the people outside.
“Dao Zu, get over here!”
“How dare you speak insolently to the lord, are you courting death?”
Zhang Dabao’s eyebrows raised, he shouted angrily, interrupting Dao Zu’s words.
“Zhang Dabao, you’re asking for it!”
The fat man known as Dao Zu was instantly furious; he had always been the boss in this area, and no one had ever dared to defy him. He hadn’t expected his underling to go crazy today, daring to call him by his name directly and prepared to smash him with a palm. But the next second, he froze.
It was only at that moment he noticed there was a strange young man wearing a red prison uniform standing by Zhang Dabao, who was sizing him up with an ambiguous smile.
“Red prison uniform!”
Dao Zu’s pupils contracted, his hairs stood on end, and he finally understood why Zhang Dabao was so arrogant; he had found a big shot to back him up.
It seemed that the newcomer, a death row inmate who had just come in today, had been brought here by Zhang Dabao, and he felt his status as the boss might soon be threatened.
“Hehe, Dao Zu, you don’t have the right to be insolent in front of my lord!”
“Stand aside obediently and await orders!”
Zhang Dabao coldly commanded, looking every bit the part of a boss one might assume he was the big shot.
“So you’re Dao Zu, the big boss around here?”
Li Xiaobai spoke up.
“Yes, this humble one is Dao Zu, temporarily responsible for uniting the prisoners in this area. Now that the lord is here, I shall naturally give up my position.”
“`
Dao Zu immediately said, as soon as he opened his mouth, that he wanted to cede his position.
“But first tell me, how large is the territory you manage, and how many people are under you?”
Li Xiaobai did not heed his flattery and continued questioning.
“Altogether one hundred and ten people, sir. Our territory isn’t large, just one hundred and ten cave dwellings under my control. Here in this prison, that can only be considered a small force,” Dao Zu said honestly. As soon as the questioning began about the size of his territory, it was clear that there was an intention to take over his domain.
“Only so many people, and yet you claim to be the boss?”
“My strength is minimal, sir, I cannot compete with other forces. However, now with your lordship here, we will surely become a major gang within this prison!”
Dao Zu broke out in a cold sweat all over his forehead.
Li Xiaobai frowned and said, “Enough, I’m not interested in your boss position. You will still manage this area in the future, but you’ll serve me. Understand?”
“If you perform well, I will bestow upon you a treasure that enhances your cultivation level; but if you engage in sneaky tricks behind my back, don’t blame me for turning merciless.”
“Understood!”
“Rest assured, from now on, you’re our boss!”
“Yes, the moment I saw you, I felt an affinity, and now I think of it, you and my long-lost father are strikingly similar. Please allow me to regard you as my birth father from now on!”
Dao Zu’s eyes moistened: “I am the eldest son!”
Zhang Dabao followed suit, saying, “I am the second son!”
“Then I’ll be the third son…”
“Father above, please accept your son’s bow!”
A group of prisoners immediately prostrated themselves, kowtowing as if pounding garlic. Li Xiaobai once again witnessed the shamelessness of convicts—who could become obedient sons at a word. He had barely arrived and already suddenly gained more than a hundred sons.
…
At the same time.
In the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea, within the Imperial City’s main hall.
The Old Dragon King sat upon the high platform, civil and military officials arrayed on both sides, bowing their heads in obedience.
The atmosphere was terribly solemn.
“Have you all heard about the matter?”
The Old Dragon King broke the silence, speaking slowly.
“To answer Your Majesty, this servant has heard that Your Majesty intends to make that human youngster the Dragon-Riding Groom of our Eastern Sea Dragon Palace. Is this true?” A bearded old tortoise stepped forward from the ranks of civil officials to ask. As he spoke, everyone perked up their ears, waiting for the Old Dragon King’s response.
“Xue’er has taken a liking to the lad, and I too perceive something extraordinary about him. Therefore, I wish to test him; if he passes the test, allowing him to become our Eastern Sea’s son-in-law might be acceptable,” the Old Dragon King replied.
“What do you think, Tortoise Prime Minister?” the Old Dragon King asked, nodding his head.
“Your Majesty, this must not be done. He is of another race; his heart will be different. Has Your Majesty forgotten the catastrophe hundreds of years ago when human cultivators slaughtered our Sea Clan?”
“Even in death, our Sea Clan cultivators must never enter into marriage with human cultivators!” the Tortoise Prime Minister stated passionately, his face changing color, while the ranks of civil officials nodded their heads in agreement.
“And what does General Long think?”
The Old Dragon King turned to the side of the military generals and asked.
To report to Your Majesty, this servant believes that Xue’er should marry a genuine powerhouse. If that human cultivator possesses formidable strength and a boundless future, even if she marries him, what harm would that be?
“Marrying a strong ally can only bring advantages and no disadvantages to our Eastern Sea!”
“`