The Eastern Domain was actually a collective term for a vast region. Broadly speaking, the areas east of the Dragon Kingdom could all be called the Eastern Domain. It mainly included eight provinces and one directly administered municipality. The Eastern Domain Grand Camp was located in this directly administered municipality called Haicheng.
Although Jiangdong bordered the Eastern Domain, it would take at least five to six hours to drive from the provincial capital of Jiangdong to Haicheng.
While resting at a highway service area at noon, Xuanwu, Zhuge Wushuang, seemed to have something to say. He hesitated several times when wanting to speak to Xiao Yunlong, but then swallowed his words.
Xiao Yunlong noticed his unusual behavior and asked, "Xuanwu, do you have something you want to tell me?"
Zhuge Wushuang nodded and replied, "Reporting to my lord, your subordinate does indeed have something to say to you, but I thought it might not be appropriate, so..."
Xiao Yunlong couldn't help but laugh, "You fellow, when did you become so indecisive? Speak quickly if you have something to say!"
"Yes, my lord, I will speak now. Actually, I have a small suggestion!"
After a slight pause to choose his words, Zhuge Wushuang continued, "It's like this, my lord. I am actually from the Eastern Domain."
Before he could finish, Baihu, the fiery-tempered General Tu Fu, interrupted, "Xuanwu, you're from the Eastern Domain? Didn't you tell us before that you were an orphan?"
Zhuge Wushuang immediately rolled his eyes and retorted, "I am an orphan, yes, but that doesn't mean I sprang from a rock, does it? I have a hometown too!"
The rough Tu Fu then chuckled heartily, "So that's how it is. You should have said so earlier."
"I was trying to say it, but you beast interrupted me!" Zhuge Wushuang said indignantly.
This time, Tu Fu was displeased and grumbled, "Listen, Xuanwu. It's fine if my lord calls me a beast, but you can't. Only my lord can call me that. Anyone else who dares to call me that will have to answer to my fists!"
With that, the burly Tu Fu, whose physique truly resembled a beast, rolled up his sleeves, revealing his corded muscles.
"Alright, alright, I won't call you that. If you really want to arm wrestle, I'm not afraid of you!" Zhuge Wushuang flicked his wrists.
"So you're not convinced? How about we have a little spar right now?" Tu Fu's spirits immediately lifted.
Hearing this, Xiao Yunlong lightly chided, "Enough, big fellow. Xuanwu is talking to me. Go find somewhere cool to hang out!"
Without another word, Baihu Tu Fu turned and walked to the shade of a tree to smoke.
Xiao Yunlong then turned back to Zhuge Wushuang and smiled, "Since your hometown is in the Eastern Domain, are you perhaps going to tell me you want to take this opportunity to go back?"
Zhuge Wushuang immediately nodded, "Yes, my lord. My parents passed away early, and I survived thanks to the care of an elder uncle from my extended family. When I was around thirteen or fourteen and had grown a bit, my uncle's children worried that I would continue to impose on them, even fearing I might covet their family's assets. They constantly mocked and belittled me, which led me to leave. It was also around that time that I coincidentally ended up in the Northern Territory."
Xiao Yunlong nodded slightly, "If I recall correctly, your hometown is in Gusu City, isn't it?"
"Yes, my lord. I didn't expect you to remember even that. Your memory is truly excellent!" Zhuge Wushuang said.
"This Gusu City is at the next highway exit. Your uncle showed you great kindness. Since we're already in the Eastern Domain, it's only right that you visit him. In that case, we'll go to Gusu City first, and then to Haicheng. It's on the way!"
Xiao Yunlong made his decision on the spot.
"Thank you, my lord, thank you for fulfilling my wish!" Zhuge Wushuang said, happily cupping his hands.
Xiao Yunlong, however, put on a stern face, "Although we are in a superior-subordinate relationship, we are also brothers who have faced life and death together. There's no need to be so formal in the future!"
Zhuge Wushuang just smiled and didn't nod in agreement. He was always a bit rigid, believing that a lord was a lord, and as a subordinate, he should maintain his proper position. Some things were not to be overstepped casually.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Xiao Yunlong could only shake his head and let it go.
After a short rest, everyone set off again. Half an hour later, they turned off the highway and entered the territory of Gusu City.
Although Gusu City was not large among all the cities in the Eastern Domain, it possessed a long history and could be considered an ancient city.
Zhuge Wushuang's elder uncle appeared to be a prominent figure in Gusu City, occupying three old Western-style houses in the city center.
The three old houses were connected, and a rough estimate of their combined area was no less than two thousand square meters.
"Xuanwu, I wouldn't have guessed that your uncle is such a wealthy man. No wonder his children were worried you'd covet their property and drove you out!"
Xiao Yunlong got out of the car and looked up at the three grand and imposing old houses, teasing him.
"They were indeed quite wealthy back then, but that has nothing to do with me. I don't care about such things at all!" Zhuge Wushuang said with a hint of helplessness.
However, as they approached the main gate, they heard the sounds of intense fighting from within. Peeking through the iron fence, they saw over twenty black-clad thugs fiercely attacking, quickly subduing more than ten bodyguards of the Zhuge family.
A short, stout middle-aged man in a suit and tie, with a large belly, stood arrogantly in the center of the courtyard, hands on his hips, looking down at several members of the Zhuge family.
"Ma Zhanshan, aren't you going too far, too brazen, to barge into my home like this? Is there no law anymore!" a middle-aged man around forty years old roared.
"Law?" The portly man in the suit grinned mockingly. "In Gusu City today, the Murong Chamber of Commerce is the law, the Murong family is the ultimate law. If your Zhuge family knows what's good for you, you'll obediently sign this contract, otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
The Zhuge family member gritted his teeth and shouted, "The Gusu Bay river port and the storage yards were built by our Zhuge family with our sweat and blood. They are the lifeblood of our Zhuge family, and we will never transfer them to your Murong Chamber of Commerce for nothing!"
"Won't transfer? Then your Zhuge family truly doesn't know when to shed tears until you see the coffin. Your son previously lost an arm and a leg at my gambling house. This document clearly states it in black and white."
Ma Zhanshan said this and then suddenly spoke in a deep voice, "You guys, go up and capture that brat Zhuge Liuyun and chop off one of his hands and one of his legs!"
As soon as he finished speaking, four burly thugs immediately charged towards a pale-faced young man huddled in a corner of the eaves.
This young man looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, but his eyes were sunken and lifeless, appearing completely drained by wine and women. As the four thugs rushed towards him, Zhuge Liuyun was so terrified that he wet himself.
"Save my dad, save me! I signed that IOU, but they deliberately lured me into it. You must save me, Dad..."
Zhuge Liuyun cried out hysterically. He wanted to escape, but he was blocked on all sides, with nowhere to run.
Seeing his son about to be captured, Zhuge Heng could only call out helplessly, "Wait a moment, Ma Zhanshan. I can agree to your conditions. Tell them to stop!"
"Stop!" With a command from Ma Zhanshan, the four thugs halted.
"As the saying goes, the wise adapt to circumstances. For a small family like yours, the Zhuge family, you cannot possibly contend with the Murong Chamber of Commerce. The Murong family has its eyes on that river port and storage yards, so you can only consider yourselves unlucky. Sign it!"
Ma Zhanshan directly threw the contract over.
Zhuge Heng said in a deep voice, "This contract is useless if I sign it. Ma Zhanshan, you know very well that my father is still in charge of the Zhuge family. It must be personally signed and sealed by him to be effective!"
"Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and call that old scoundrel Zhuge Yaliang out to sign and seal it!" Ma Zhanshan shouted.
Zhuge Heng replied, "It's probably not possible right now. My father is not in good health and is currently receiving an IV drip. The doctor said he is not lucid at the moment and cannot make any decisions!"
"Not lucid, cannot make any decisions? You good-for-nothing Zhuge Heng, how dare you trick and fool me! If I don't teach you a lesson today, you won't know how formidable I, Master Ma, am. You guys, go and grab Zhuge Heng's two daughters and strip them in public!"
Ma Zhanshan waved his hand, and several thugs lunged into the hall like wild wolves.
Seeing this, Xiao Yunlong shook his head and said to Zhuge Wushuang, who had not yet reacted, "What are you still standing there for? Aren't you going to make a move?"
Zhuge Wushuang finally snapped out of his daze and quickly lunged forward.