Afterward, Zhang Meilan told Wang Ming that Qin Long had regained his memory, but he remained unconcerned. Though he'd once heard that Qin Long was a military prodigy—the reason Old Madam Tang had arranged the marriage in the first place—that was all in the past. Now, Qin Long was just a cripple. His glory was gone, so what did it matter? Besides, the Wang Family was a renowned and powerful family in the region; what was there to fear?
"Qin Long, so what if you've regained your memory?" Wang Ming sneered. "You're nothing but a cripple leaning on a crutch! Even if you were once a man of high status, now you're just a useless dog who can't even eat, drink, or relieve himself on his own! I'm not just going to take your battle robe, I'm also going to have a 'profound interaction' with your fiancée in your bed! Don't worry, you damned cripple, I'll let you watch the whole show from the side, hehe..."
Wang Ming flicked the white battle robe, stomped on the Skybreaker Sword, and pressed a hand onto Qin Long's shoulder. With a lewd grin, he said, "Haha, kid, crushing you is as easy as squashing an ant. What can you possibly do about it?"
Seeing his treasured sword being trod upon, Qin Long was consumed by a burning rage. This was trampling on his honor, insulting his achievements! For a soldier, honor was everything. This was worse than death itself.
Qin Long's eyes blazed with a fury so fierce it felt they might split, an inferno of rage erupting within his heart. But his right leg was completely useless; he couldn't move to fight back.
Watching the scene unfold, Zhang Meilan couldn't help but let out a string of mocking laughs. "A cripple is just a cripple! Where's that threatening attitude from earlier? In front of Young Master Wang, you don't even dare to fart! What a pathetic loser!"
Zhang Meilan and Wang Ming stood to the side, sneering relentlessly.
At that moment, an ice-cold voice cut through the air. "I, Qin Long, have killed countless men and weathered every storm imaginable. You, Wang Ming, dare to speak so arrogantly? For what you have done today, I will repay you a hundredfold! The day my army arrives will be the day your Wang Family is annihilated." With a flick of his arm, Qin Long brushed Wang Ming's hand away.
BANG!
An immense force sent Wang Ming staggering back. He realized with a jolt of alarm that his arm was throbbing with a sharp pain.
"You damned cripple, you're asking to die!" Wang Ming snarled, lunging forward. He grabbed Qin Long by the neck and hissed through clenched teeth, "You're nothing but a toad lusting after a swan, and you dare threaten my Wang Family! You can't even stand on your own two feet, yet you run your mouth with such arrogance! Tell me, what good are you for, aside from burdening Xuewu and making her take care of you?"
Wang Ming's eyes were wide as he stared at Qin Long, his face a mask of cold fury.
BANG!
Before Wang Ming could even react, a crisp smack echoed as a single punch sent him flying backward and crashing into a trash can.
"Aaargh!"
Blood immediately gushed from his nose, a ghastly sight.
Qin Long blew on his right fist. "These iron fists of mine can still put you in a state where death would be a mercy," he said, his voice cold and his expression impassive.
Wang Ming stood there dumbfounded, and even Zhang Meilan was utterly shocked. She never imagined the foolish cripple would dare to lay a hand on Young Master Wang. Could this boy really have been a military prodigy?
"You worthless cripple! I'm going to skin you alive today!" Wang Ming seethed. "After you're dead, I'll take good care of Xuewu for you!"
Gritting his teeth, Wang Ming snatched the Skybreaker Sword from the ground and charged at Qin Long, ready to slash.
"Stop!" a clear, cold voice rang out.
Hearing the voice, Wang Ming froze. Zhang Meilan sighed in frustration, wondering why her daughter had to return at this exact moment.
In the doorway stood a woman in a white dress, appearing like a fairy descended to the mortal realm. She had a graceful figure, a delicate oval face, and stunning features. Her beautiful eyes, framed by charming dimples, now blazed with anger. Black hair cascaded over her shoulders, accentuating her curvaceous figure, long, pale legs, and the irresistible allure of her full chest.
This was Tang Xuewu, Qin Long's fiancée.
The sight of her made Wang Ming gulp, a crude heat rising within him.
Tang Xuewu's brow furrowed as her cold gaze swept over the scene. Her anger flared upon seeing Wang Ming about to attack Qin Long. "Wang Ming, don't you dare!"
She shoved Wang Ming aside and stood protectively in front of Qin Long, gently helping him into a soft chair.
"Xuewu, you're here just in time!" Zhang Meilan immediately burst into tears and rushed over. "This damned cripple threatened me! If Young Master Wang hadn't arrived when he did, who knows what horrible things he might have done!"
Wang Ming halted and pointed furiously at Qin Long. "This guy recovered his memory a long time ago! He's been tricking you into taking care of him. I could tolerate him when he was a fool, but now he's definitely up to no good!"
Wang Ming roared, hastily wiping the blood from his nose to hide his embarrassing state from Tang Xuewu. He, a towering 1.88 meters tall, had just been given a bloody nose by a cripple. If Tang Xuewu heard about this, how could he possibly win her heart?
"We are already engaged. Even if he does have intentions toward me, so what?" Tang Xuewu retorted. "Besides, this is our affair. Isn't Young Master Wang overstepping his bounds a little? And I was wondering how Qin Long got those fresh scars on his arm. So it was your doing! You've gone too far!"
Tang Xuewu glared fiercely at Wang Ming, like a mother eagle protecting her young.
"No! Xuewu, he really has been deliberately deceiving you!" Wang Ming pleaded. "He's trying to tie you down so you can't leave him!"
"Exactly! Xuewu, Young Master Wang is right. He really has recovered his memory!" Zhang Meilan added.
Hearing this, Tang Xuewu raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Qin Long. "A-Long, you...?" she asked, gently stroking his head.
Qin Long sneered inwardly. He deliberately stretched out his arms, putting on a foolish, simple-minded expression. "Hug me, big sister! Hug me!"
With an indulgent smile, Xuewu pulled Qin Long into her embrace. As he took in her scent, he looked utterly harmless.
"You're still fucking acting?" Wang Ming's anger boiled over at the sight.
"Enough!" Tang Xuewu snapped. "Both of you, leave my house immediately!"
Seeing Qin Long continue his foolish act, Wang Ming and Zhang Meilan gritted their teeth in fury.
"Qin Long, you just wait!" Wang Ming growled before being pulled out of the house by Zhang Meilan.
Watching them leave, Tang Xuewu shook her head with a hint of helplessness, her gaze turning to Qin Long with apology. "I had a feeling something was wrong, so I changed my schedule to come look after you," she murmured as she helped Qin Long back into the house.
Looking at Qin Long's vacant expression, Tang Xuewu sighed and shook her head again. She sat down beside him and began gently dabbing his arm with medicinal liniment.
"Grandma told me you were a military prodigy, that you earned countless merits," she said softly. "She said that on the battlefield, you were brave and invincible, a true Guardian War Dragon."