News of Bian Lang's actions in the South China Sea and Shangguan Hongyu's abdication of the throne in the capital had long since reached Zhengyi Fortress.

Upon hearing this, all living beings remained calm and were not surprised.

Bian Lang always acts impulsively, seemingly never considering the consequences.

But when all living beings learned that they would soon be going to the East Sea to fight against the aquatic creatures of the four seas, they were all very excited.

The multi-headed race has been absent from the world for far too long. It truly needs a momentous war to make all living beings in the world realize the power of the multi-headed race once again.

However, the number of men to bring is something everyone still needs to discuss carefully.

The aquatic creatures of the four seas must be exterminated, and the homeland of the Misty Forest must be protected.

Several days later, Dugu Qiusheng arrived at Justice Fortress.

There was another person traveling with Dugu Qiusheng. When Bian Lang saw that person, he was a little stunned. That person was none other than Lao Hei.

Back then, in a tavern in that small town, Bian Lang listened to Lao Hei boasting that he eventually traded Ao Lan's pair of dragon horns for news of Xing Tian's head in the Heavenly Realm.

Perhaps they would never meet again, or perhaps they would meet again by chance, but Bian Lang never imagined that Lao Hei would appear at Justice Fortress, and that he would come with Dugu Qiusheng.

"Master Bian, we meet again." Old Hei greeted him with a smile.

Old Hei's skin looks even darker than before.

But his smile still held an unfathomable depth.

"Old Hei, do you know Brother Bian?" Dugu Qiusheng was quite shocked.

Bian Lang was shocked that Lao Hei knew Dugu Qiusheng, but he did not show his shock.

Old Hei chuckled, "We've met once before."

"It's more than just a fleeting encounter; it's a connection forged through countless lifetimes," Bian Lang corrected with a smile.

Old Hei looked somewhat embarrassed.

He certainly got a great deal by exchanging such vague information for Ao Lan's pair of dragon horns.

However, this is how message exchanges are supposed to be; as long as the person who wants the message feels it's worth the money, then there's no problem.

The fact that Bian Lang was willing to exchange the dragon horn for the information shows that the information was far more valuable to him than the dragon horn.

Bian Lang stopped discussing the matter and instead asked, "Brother Dugu, how did you and Lao Hei come to know each other?"

"Old Hei is my mentor," Dugu Qiusheng said.

Dugu Qiusheng had known Lao Hei since he was very young, and had even received guidance from Lao Hei.

Dugu Qiusheng's talent for cultivation was not actually that great, but under Lao Hei's guidance, he made rapid progress and was able to rival those geniuses of the same age.

Bian Lang laughed after hearing this, "Old Hei is truly a man of great talent and cunning."

"Master Bian, you flatter me." Old Hei looked quite embarrassed.

Bian Lang invited the two into the Justice Fortress, and Shangguan Hongyu personally brewed tea for everyone.

When Lao Hei saw Shangguan Hongyu, his expression became even more strange.

Shangguan Hongyu, however, remained calm and composed, even on their first meeting.

Almost no one spoke; they simply lowered their heads, drank their tea, and occasionally complimented how delicious it was.

Dugu Qiusheng felt the atmosphere was rather awkward, so he handed a storage bag to Bian Lang and said with a smile, "Brother Bian, I guess you've almost finished your Meng Po wine."

Bian Lang opened the bag and looked inside, then asked with a smile, "So generous? Brother Dugu must have something to ask for, right?"

"I just came to catch up with old friends," Old Hei said quickly.

Dugu Qiusheng turned to look at Lao Hei, his eyes filled with surprise. Lao Hei hadn't said that when they arrived.

But Old Hei's sudden desire to conceal his purpose for coming here must have been due to some compelling reason.

Dugu Qiusheng will not say anything for now, but he will have to ask Lao Hei properly later. He always feels that there is some kind of grudge between Lao Hei, Bian Lang and Shangguan Hongyu.

Bian Lang said, "Brother Dugu and I are old friends, but Lao Hei, are we friends?"

"I've always considered Master Bian a friend," Lao Hei said with a smile.

Bian Lang laughed and said, "Then I am honored."

After tea, Bian Lang arranged rooms for the two of them.

Back in the room, Bian Lang grasped Shangguan Hongyu's hand and asked in a low voice, "Do you know Lao Hei?"

"We've met a few times, this person..." Shangguan Hongyu didn't know how to describe Lao Hei.

Sometimes I feel like Lao Hei is a bad guy, but the things he does are actually very righteous.

But if you think Old Black is a good person, you might find out he's doing bad things.

Can a person truly switch freely between good and evil, right and wrong?

Bian Lang laughed after hearing this, "In other words, Lao Hei is both righteous and wicked."

“That’s how it is,” Shangguan Hongyu said.

But one thing Shangguan Hongyu was certain of was that Lao Hei was very capable and definitely not an ordinary person.

Shangguan Hongyu once suspected that Lao Hei was a monster, but when she sent people to investigate, they found nothing.

Shangguan Hongyu was quite surprised that Lao Hei would come here.

"Husband, what do you think he's doing here?" Shangguan Hongyu then asked.

Bian Lang laughed and said, "You'll have to ask Brother Dugu. I reckon that guy isn't very bright; he wouldn't even realize he'd been fooled."

Dugu Qiusheng said that Lao Hei was his master, and that Lao Hei often taught him cultivation methods when he was young, which shows that Lao Hei often traveled between the Empire and the Prison Land.

This guy is definitely not simple.

...

In Lao Hei's room, Dugu Qiusheng looked at Lao Hei with a face full of doubt.

Upon arriving at Justice Fortress, Old Black's reaction surprised Dugu Qiusheng.

"Old Hei, do you have a grudge against Brother Bian?" Dugu Qiusheng asked.

Old Hei laughed and said, "I met him once before. I traded information for a pair of dragon horns. It's not like we had a grudge, is it?"

"But I feel something's wrong with you." Dugu Qiusheng wasn't as foolish as Bian Lang said.

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