"Brother Long! You're not dead!"
"I can't acknowledge you right now!"
Xiao Lingyue angrily slapped the surface of the pool, her heart filled with fury. At that moment, a knock came from the door.
She quickly changed and walked out of the room.
The female soldier was utterly shocked to see the tear stains in her marshal's eyes. She never imagined the legendary Blood-colored Asura, a woman who commanded the winds and clouds, could have such a vulnerable, feminine side.
"Sand got in my eyes," Xiao Lingyue said, her own turning cold as she commanded, "Prepare the helicopter. I'm going home."
"Marshal Yue, going home at this time... isn't that a bit—"
The soldier trailed off upon meeting Xiao Lingyue's icy gaze, then simply asked, "When do we depart?"
Xiao Lingyue's eyes flashed as she snapped, "Immediately!"
"Understood!" The female soldier stiffened, snapping a crisp, solemn salute.
「In Jiangzhong, at the Tang Family residence.」
After returning, Qin Long sank into a soft chair, lost in thought.
Yue'er shouldn't be like this. This is completely out of character for her.
He slapped his head as the realization hit him.
In my excitement, I directly dialed the Heavenly Dragon Army's number, completely forgetting my current situation. How could I be so stupid? I shouldn't have exposed myself. If my enemies found out, it would be a complete disaster. Yue'er must be protecting me. That's the only explanation for her drastic change in behavior.
"Is anyone home? Is that you, you foolish cripple?"
At that moment, an attractive middle-aged woman walked in. She had slanted, phoenix-like eyes and her hair was tied back in a ponytail. Her fashionable clothes accentuated a voluptuous figure, but she carried herself with an air of contempt, looking at him as if he were a dead dog.
This was Tang Xuewu's mother, Zhang Meilan.
For years, Zhang Meilan had led the Tang Family in abusing Qin Long, berating and beating him at the slightest disagreement. He had become their personal punching bag. However, Qin Long's true identity was a top secret, so the Tang Family had no idea who he was. In Zhang Meilan's eyes, Qin Long was nothing more than a worthless lapdog.
Qin Long looked coldly at Zhang Meilan.
"You damn cripple, you dare glare at me?" Zhang Meilan charged forward, claws out, ready to strike. "You dare glare at me? Did yesterday's beating not teach you anything?"
"If it weren't for you, I'd still be playing mahjong right now! Xuewu insisted I change your diapers. What sin did I commit to deserve this!" she shrieked. "Why don't you just die, you useless cripple!"
Zhang Meilan stormed over and kicked Qin Long.
An immense killing intent erupted from him. He was the Dragon Marshal of the Heavenly Dragon Army, the indomitable Heavenly Dragon himself. When had he ever suffered such a humiliation? In the past, he would have had her executed on the spot. This was a power that superseded the law, granted to him personally by the King of Great Xia!
"My, my, what's with that look? Are you thinking of raising a hand to me?" Zhang Meilan sneered. "Years ago, the old madam claimed you were a hidden dragon with limitless potential. It's laughably absurd! A peerless prodigy? Are you even worthy of that title?"
"You can't even eat or clean yourself properly. You're just a complete imbecile!"
"All that nonsense about 'dragons' and 'heavens' is just bullsh*t! You're nothing but a lame piece of dog crap!"
Zhang Meilan spewed curses at Qin Long. She even grabbed a nearby broom, looking ready to beat him with it. She had lost track of how many times she had beaten and cursed him; it had become a habit.
But in the next second, Zhang Meilan was so terrified that she collapsed to the ground, filled with fear.
Because the man she considered a useless cripple was shakily walking toward her on his own, completely unaided by his crutches.
The tall, upright Qin Long stared at Zhang Meilan with an icy glare. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet by more than ten degrees. His killing intent was endless, a bone-chilling cold. Zhang Meilan trembled uncontrollably as she felt Qin Long's gaze sweep over her, her body quivering with fear. The murderous aura erupting from him made him seem like a god of slaughter, making it impossible to look him in the eye. His world-defying presence made Zhang Meilan feel like an insignificant insect that he could crush at any moment.
"Don't kill me!" Zhang Meilan scrambled backward.
Qin Long watched her with unparalleled coldness. An overwhelming pressure, like that of a mighty dragon awakening, began to radiate from him.
"Back when I ruled supreme, it was your family who sought a marriage alliance," Qin Long began, his voice dangerously low. "Now that I have fallen, it is you who trample upon my dignity. It has always been you.
"I am Qin Long. I dominated the battlefield, taking the heads of enemy generals from within armies of thousands as if it were child's play. Who would dare to defy me? Who could?
"In all these years, only Xuewu has shown me any care. The rest of you beat me at the slightest provocation. Debts of kindness must be repaid, and grudges must be settled!
"If you were not Xuewu's mother, I would have made you bleed within seven steps!"
Qin Long's voice was like a demon's whisper, causing her face to drain of all color as she trembled uncontrollably.
"You... you fool... you're just a cripple, what could you..." Zhang Meilan stammered through gritted teeth.
Qin Long glanced at his right leg, then at the crutches behind him, and sighed in resignation.
I'm no longer the commander of the Heavenly Dragon Army, just a useless cripple.
"So what?" he said, his voice firm. "Even if I, Qin Long, have fallen on hard times, I will not be humiliated by the likes of you."
Even though he was living under another's roof, he was still the War Dragon of the past. Zhang Meilan was so terrified by his words that she could only stammer incoherently.
In his agitation, Qin Long had forgotten to use his crutches and suddenly collapsed. He had only managed to stand moments before by tapping into his latent potential in a moment of provocation. An injury that had festered for three long years was not something that could be healed so quickly.
I must first restore my meridians, then find a chance to gather herbs and refine medicinal pills.
Seeing Qin Long collapse, Zhang Meilan immediately scrambled to her feet, her expression once again menacing and cruel.
"You damned cripple, you dare threaten me? Do you think I'm easily frightened? You're nothing but a helpless piece of trash who can't even take care of himself!" she screamed. "Stop clinging to my daughter! Get out!"
Just then, a handsome young man strode in from outside.
"Aunt Zhang, what's wrong?"
The man held a silver-white longsword and wore a white battle robe embroidered with a white Divine Dragon. The longsword radiated a formidable aura, giving off an intangible chill, and the robe made him look as heroic as a War God.
A venomous hatred filled Qin Long's eyes the moment he saw him.
This was Wang Ming, the eldest young master of the powerful Wang Family. He had always coveted Tang Xuewu. Even knowing of her marriage contract with Qin Long, he didn't care. For years, Wang Ming had desperately wanted Tang Xuewu for himself, conspiring with Zhang Meilan to drive Qin Long out of the house. He had even abandoned Qin Long in the wilderness on several occasions, but Xuewu always managed to find him and bring him back. Wang Ming's ultimate goal was to take Xuewu by force and then swallow the Tang Family's entire fortune. If Tang Xuewu hadn't resisted him, threatening to take her own life, she would have become his woman long ago.
"This damned cripple threatened me!" Zhang Meilan shrieked, glaring furiously at Qin Long.
Qin Long's eyes were fixed on the battle robe and the longsword, a boundless hatred erupting within them.
"The Heavenly Dragon Battle Robe... and the Sword Punisher Breaking Heaven!" Qin Long roared. "Wang Ming, you are truly courting death! Why haven't you taken off that robe? Do you not fear bringing catastrophe upon the Wang Family?"
His furious bellow made Wang Ming stumble back several steps.
Damn, has this cripple finally lost his mind?