The newcomer was Shangguan Ming, the newly appointed deacon of the Martial Ancestor Ground Institute and its former Head Disciple. He was the son of the Great Elder of the Ground Institute and, more importantly, Shangguan Pojun's older cousin. He had rushed to Dragon City personally at Shangguan Pojun's own behest.
Shangguan Ming strode forward, ignoring the Su Family Head and the others, and walked straight up to Su Miaoyu. "Miaoyu," he said dismissively, "you must have been tricked by that worthless ant, Long Chen."
Such an intimate form of address caused many in the Long Family to feel a secret disdain—a disdain directed, of course, at Su Miaoyu. After all, just two days ago she was Long Chen's fiancée, and now she had become Shangguan Pojun's.
"Cousin, you don't know what happened," Su Miaoyu said, her eyes flashing coldly with contempt. "Long Hen was just beaten and thrown out of the secret chamber. He's now seriously injured and unconscious. Based on Long Chen's own strength, he's no match for a War Maniac Realm expert. His father must have woken up!"
Hearing this, Shangguan Ming's brow furrowed slightly. "I was the one who left Long Dou on the brink of death. How could I have misjudged the blow? He shouldn't have been able to wake up; in fact, he should have died within a few days. Could he have taken some high-quality Healing Pills?"
"Long Chen went to the World Business Association and met with Manager Ling Yan!" Su Miaoyu's eyes glinted coldly.
Shangguan Ming's expression cleared in understanding. "No wonder. It seems that ant Long Chen has some skill after all, to actually get the manager of the World Business Association to help him."
At this, Shangguan Ming paused and looked at Su Miaoyu, reminding her, "Miaoyu, you can't be so careless in the future. You should have killed Long Chen on the spot back when my cousin, Shangguan Pojun, seriously injured him, instead of sparing his life. Furthermore, I originally intended to kill Long Dou, but you insisted I leave him barely alive because your brother, Su Ao, was in Long Chen's hands!"
Su Miaoyu bit her lip, overcome with regret. The only reason I handed Long Chen over to Su Ao was that Su Ao had always resented him, so I let him vent his anger. Who could have known that Long Chen's dantian hadn't been crippled after all, and that he would even manage to capture Su Ao! If I had known Long Chen was so lucky, I would never have given him a chance to live! But alas, it's too late for regrets now.
"Cousin, Su Ao is my younger brother, the one I care about most. I can't let anything happen to him!" Su Miaoyu said with grave seriousness. "I implore you, Cousin, please act now! Capture and kill Long Dou and Long Chen, and rescue my Little Brother Ao!"
Shangguan Ming sighed and waved his hand. "Fine. I suppose I can understand, just as Shangguan Pojun is the cousin I care about most. Don't worry, Miaoyu. I'll go down and deal with that pair of ants..."
Before Shangguan Ming could finish, a voice drifted out from the secret chamber. "Oh? And is Shangguan Pojun your *biological* brother as well?"
It was Long Chen's voice.
No sooner had he spoken than Long Dou and Long Chen were seen walking out of the secret chamber one after the other.
Long Chen said with disdain, "Su Miaoyu once told me that Su Ao is her *biological* brother! That means Su Ao isn't the son of Second Elder Su Lie at all! He's the son of the Su Family Head, Su Feng, and Second Elder Su Lie's wife!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the entire scene erupted in shock.
"Shut your mouth!" Su Miaoyu's face turned ashen with rage. I regret ever telling him that! I regret even more not killing him outright two nights ago.
"Is that so?" Su Lie breathed heavily, his eyes turning red as he stared at the Su Family Head, Su Feng. It was now clear that Su Lie had long held suspicions, which was why he had just suggested Su Feng be the one to go down into the secret chamber to capture Long Chen.
The Su Family Head, Su Feng, frowned deeply. Sensing the strange gazes of the crowd, his face burned with shame. He had intended to keep this secret for his entire life, as it directly concerned his relationship with his own brother, Su Lie! But now, it was out in the open for all to hear.
"Damn you, Long Chen! I'll kill you!" the Su Family Head, Su Feng, roared, lunging forward in a fury.
Long Dou's gaze shifted to him. A single glance was all it took to make Su Feng freeze in his tracks, not daring to take another step. Such an intimidating presence was clearly built up over many years.
"Family Head!" Many members of the Long Family were visibly emotional; some even had tears welling in their eyes.
Their pillar of support had returned!
While a small portion were supporters of Long Hen, the vast majority were loyal to Long Dou. They had only followed Long Hen in surrendering to the Su Family because they were powerless to resist his coercion.
"Cousin..." Su Miaoyu's brows knitted in worry.
"Don't worry, Miaoyu," Shangguan Ming said with complete composure. "They are merely two ants that I can crush at will."
"Is that so?" Long Dou stared at him, his eyes cold.