Chapter 41: The People of the Dragon Family

Dragon Capital—

A torrential downpour lashed down upon the suffocating city. Meanwhile, inside a restricted military zone in the suburbs, nestled among mountains that coiled like dragons, the air was filled with the relentless thunder of gunfire and artillery. An unprecedented military exercise was underway. Everyone, from high-ranking generals to the cooks in the mess hall, had been swept into the fray.

Combat helicopters circled the heavens, while night-vision drones patrolled the forest canopy. An array of high-tech weaponry stood as a testament to the formidable combat power of the Dragon Kingdom today.

In a barracks at a certain base, a middle-aged man in military uniform stared with icy, piercing eyes at the "Red-Headed" confidential document on his desk. Five men in black suits and dark glasses stood within the barracks; though they appeared to be of significant status, their conduct was notably discreet and swift. After submitting the document, the five turned and left.

Soon after, a tall, muscular youth in military uniform strode in.

"Father!" the young man said, approaching the older man. "Are there any instructions from the Capital?"

The middle-aged man spoke in a deep, heavy voice: "A major incident occurred today at the residence of that elder. It is said that people from the Martial World crossed the line and planted shadow agents near him. The leaders in the government are furious; they have ordered a thorough investigation and have amended several regulations. It seems that the collaboration between the Ministry of War and the Martial World will have to be shelved for now."

"Our plan to enhance the combat effectiveness of our soldiers through the physical cultivation methods of martial artists will likely have to wait until next year to be put back on the agenda."

Hearing this, the youth could not help but feel disappointed. "That is such a pity. The people of the Martial World certainly have a lot of nerve."

The middle-aged man sneered. "Your nerve is quite something as well, secretly colluding with the 'Black Eagle King' of Jiangnan Province to help you abduct someone."

"What?"

The youth’s face turned pale instantly. He quickly raised his hands in a defensive gesture. "Father..."

"I!"

*Smack!*

In the next second, the middle-aged man raised his hand and delivered a slap that sent the youth flying over ten meters to the ground. The youth scrambled to his feet and dropped to one knee, not daring to look up.

The middle-aged man rose, paced forward, and spoke with stern gravity: "For three generations, the Long family has guarded this nation, strictly upholding the law and serving the people. I never imagined that in my own generation, I would raise such a disloyal and degenerate wretch."

"If that one billion had not been returned to my account, I would never have known that you had done something so treasonous behind my back! Do you think that just because you are a third-generation official and managed to climb to the rank of Major in the Dragon Arrow Battalion at such a young age, you can act without law or restraint?"

"Long Feng, you are a fool!" The middle-aged man’s shout left Long Feng stunned into silence.

"Father, I... I was wrong," Long Feng stammered, scrambling to beg for mercy. "I was just momentarily blinded by greed. Someone told me that Li Yuyan possessed..."

"Shut up!" The middle-aged man’s face twisted with rage. "Have you forgotten the wisdom I taught you: stay close to the virtuous and keep away from the wicked? Did those scoundrels from the Martial World fill your head with more nonsense?"

"Father!" Long Feng tried to explain, but it was already too late.

In the Dragon Kingdom, the greatest taboo is the "martial artist who uses force to defy the law." Martial artists possess power far beyond that of ordinary men, sometimes even rivaling the most terrifying heat-based weapons. For years, the Dragon Kingdom had kept the Martial World in check precisely because of this fear. As the head of the Long family, the middle-aged man knew all too well the consequences of getting too close to them. That was why he had been so cautious, moving with extreme care, only to have his son interpret that caution as a signal that it was safe to associate with them.

He was deeply disappointed.

"If I do not punish you today, how can I maintain my standing? From this moment on, you are stripped of all your positions. Get out of the military and go home to reflect on your mistakes. Get out!"

At these words, Long Feng’s body trembled. "Father!"

"Guards, take him away!" At the command, several soldiers appeared and hauled Long Feng away.

After he was gone, a female secretary emerged from behind the commanding officer’s tent. Had Guan Sheng been present, he would have recognized her as the person by Elder Ji's side.

"Commander Long is truly worthy of being the number one God of War of the Southern District. With such family discipline, it is no wonder they say the Long family produces nothing but military talent."

The middle-aged man quickly bowed to the secretary. "You are too kind, Miss Zhang." He sighed. "It is my failure, Long Beng, for not disciplining my son properly and offending Elder Ji."

Zhang Qingyu stood with her hands behind her back and shook her head. "You are mistaken. It was not Elder Ji whom your son offended."

Long Beng was stunned. "Then who?"

Zhang Qingyu said slowly, "If Elder Ji had not asked me to investigate information regarding Li Yuyan, I would never have discovered what your son had done. You should be grateful that the conversation between Elder Ji and that person happened in time. Otherwise, if that person were to learn of your son's identity, I fear your entire Long family would lose its future."

"You should know that person’s title well. In foreign lands, they call him—the Demon Blade!"

"What?" The mere mention of the name caused the commander of the Dragon Kingdom’s Southern Military District to widen his eyes in disbelief. "Are you saying... the God of Slaughter, the Demon Blade, the Third Master, Guan Sheng?" Long Beng’s hands began to tremble.

A memory surfaced in his mind unbidden. It was during an intelligence mission abroad when he had been ambushed by over three hundred terrorists. That half-arm-length blade had cut a cold light through the night, a blade-aura extending for a hundred meters. In a single breath, a hundred terrorists had fallen! He would never forget that blade, nor the gaze that chilled him to the marrow. It was only after returning home that he learned it had been the God of Slaughter, the Demon Blade, executing a mission and coincidentally saving his life.

Long Beng felt his skin crawl. "Miss Zhang, if I may be so bold... how exactly did my good-for-nothing son offend that man?"

Zhang Qingyu chuckled. "Your 'good' son wanted to snatch that man's wife. What do you think?"

Long Beng’s face twitched as he forced a bitter smile. "I suddenly feel that my punishment was not nearly harsh enough. I should have beaten him to death!"

***

"Achoo!"

Having left the military camp, Long Feng changed into a white suit. He sneezed, looking every bit the debauched playboy as he arrived at a bar in the Dragon Capital. Within minutes, his side was crowded with beautiful women, and he pulled one close, letting his hands wander, clearly enjoying himself.

"I was absolutely suffocating in that place!"

On the sofa, his subordinates were also each occupied with a beautiful girl, playing with abandon. After a few rounds of drinks, a man with a thick, fleshy face asked, "Young Master Long, where are we heading tomorrow?"

Long Feng pushed the woman in his arms away, his expression turning cold. "Is what you said before true? That as long as one consumes the 'Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart,' one can be reborn and become a martial artist?"

The man nodded vigorously. "Yes, Young Master Long. There is no mistake. I heard it with my own ears at Qingshan!"

"Good." Long Feng’s eyes grew dark and gloomy. "Then let us prepare. Tomorrow, we head to Jiang City. I refuse to believe I cannot handle one woman! Whoever dares to ruin my plans will die! And when I return, the first one I’ll deal with is that old fossil, the Black Eagle King!"