Long Ao's status in the Long Family was a world apart from what it once was.
Now, not a single person in the Long Family dared to mock Long Ao as a waste. Among the third-generation disciples, anyone who saw him would nod respectfully.
Seeing all this, a smile finally graced Long Ao's face. Ten years of persistence, ten years of dedication, had finally paid off. 'Thinking about it, it was all worth it.'
"Seventh Brother, Grandfather wants you in the main hall."
At this moment, Long Zheng was the very picture of deference. Compared to the Long Zheng of a month ago, he was like a completely different person.
Long Ao, of course, knew why everyone's attitude had changed. If he hadn't defeated his elder brother and Long Ziyou, would these people be so respectful to him now?
Nodding, Long Ao didn't hold a grudge about the past. No matter what, the same blood flowed through their veins. He then stood up and walked toward the Long Family's main hall.
Just as he reached the outside of the Long Family's main hall, Long Ao heard a roar from within.
"Long Haoshi, no matter what, you have to give me an explanation today! Damn it all, my precious grandson actually had his Dantian crippled by that waste! This is the same as stripping my grandson of his right to cultivate!"
In the Long Family's main hall, the Yang Family Master, Yang Guantian, along with Yang Chen and a pale-faced Yang Bujue, stared furiously at Long Haoshi, who was seated in the place of honor. Across from them were Long Li and Long Ying, the number one disciple of the third generation.
With a cold sneer, Long Haoshi said, "Yang Guantian, has your brain gone to water? The fight between my precious grandson and Yang Bujue happened ages ago. Isn't it a bit late for you to come to me about this now?"
"Oh, and by the way, if anything happens to your precious grandson in the future, are you just going to blame it all on my grandson?"
"You..."
Before Yang Guantian could explode in fury, a young man walked in from outside. He had sharp, sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, and his features were resolute. His face had shed its immaturity, replaced by a stern coldness.
Seeing the main culprit who had destroyed his precious grandson, he almost attacked, roaring in fury, "Waste! You dared to destroy my grandson's Dantian? Are you fucking tired of living?"
"Waste?"
With a cold laugh, Long Ao first bowed to his grandfather and second uncle before saying with a hint of mockery, "If I'm a waste, wouldn't that make your precious grandson worse than a waste?"
"You dare talk back to me? I'll kill you, you waste!"
"Enough, Yang Guantian! You'd do well to remember that this is the Long Family, not your Yang Family. Are you looking for a fight?"
Seeing that Long Haoshi was truly enraged, Yang Guantian reined himself in slightly. But the thought of this waste before him, who had destroyed his grandson's Dantian and rendered him unable to cultivate for life, made the anger in his heart burst forth uncontrollably.
It turned out that after the battle between Long Ao and Yang Bujue, Yang Bujue had seemed fine on the surface. But a month later, for some unknown reason, his Dantian was suddenly rendered useless, and he could no longer continue his cultivation. Naturally, the Yang Family placed the blame for this on Long Ao's head.
"When Yang Bujue and I fought, everyone was watching. You were the one who took him off the dueling ring in the end. I'd like to ask, was Yang Bujue's Dantian crippled back then?"
Yang Chen was struck speechless. After all, his son's Dantian indeed hadn't been crippled at the time. But he wasn't a fool. He was one hundred percent certain that the waste before him was responsible for crippling his son's Dantian.
With a cold snort, Yang Chen said in an icy voice, "A waste is a waste. You don't even have the guts to admit what you've done."
"Haha, Yang Guantian, Yang Chen, since you insist it was my doing, then I'll admit to it. What are you going to do about it?"
What are you going to do about it?
Hearing Long Ao's admission, both Long Haoshi and Long Li were shocked. Yang Guantian, however, sneered and said, "What an arrogant waste. A life for a life, a debt for a debt. Since you crippled my grandson's Dantian, I will cripple yours."
"Yang Guantian, you dare!"
"Grandfather, let me handle this. Yang Guantian, our battle was supposed to be a life-and-death match. Your son shamelessly intervening on the dueling ring to attack me was already shameless enough. Never mind Yang Bujue's Dantian being crippled; even if he had died, he would have only had himself to blame. You can't blame anyone else."
This was the truth.
Yang Guantian and Yang Chen knew full well that the Long Family was not at fault, but they couldn't suppress the anger in their hearts. If they just let this go, how could the Yang Family maintain its standing in Red Fire Town in the future?
"Whether I did it or not, I'm sure your Yang Family has already decided I did. In that case, let's settle this today. Yang Chen, I formally challenge you. If I lose, the Yang Family can do with me as it pleases. But if you lose, get the hell out of my Long Family's home immediately."
A formal challenge?
Hearing Long Ao issue a challenge to Yang Chen, Yang Guantian was the first to burst out laughing, as if he had just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world. A waste actually wanted to challenge his son?
"Ao'Er, don't be rash."
Seeing his grandson about to challenge Yang Chen, Long Haoshi also seemed a bit surprised. After all, Yang Chen was an Inner Strength Tenth Heaven Martial Artist. With Ao'Er's current strength, how could he possibly be a match for Yang Chen?
"Ao'Er, let the family handle this. Step down, quickly." Long Li was also getting anxious and even stepped forward, preparing to pull his rash nephew away.
But Long Ao said with exceptional firmness, "Grandfather, Second Uncle, leave this to me."
Seemingly a little surprised, both Long Haoshi and Long Li took a deep look at the grandson (nephew) before them and sat back down. In their hearts, however, they were still more than a little worried.
"Yang Chen, do you dare to accept my challenge?"
"Hahaha, why wouldn't I dare to accept? Today, I'll see for myself just why a waste like you is so arrogant. Long Ao, let me make this clear beforehand: fists have no eyes, and blades have no mercy. If something unfortunate were to happen to you, our Yang Family will not be held responsible."
Yang Chen's meaning was simple. He intended to avenge his son during the fight. Even if he killed his opponent, it would have nothing to do with him or the family behind him.
Hearing this, the expressions of Long Haoshi and Long Li instantly turned cold. Just as Long Haoshi was about to explode with rage, Long Ao said, "No problem. I also hope that if your Dantian happens to be crippled, certain people and certain families won't be shameless enough to come back again."
With that, Long Ao turned and left the main hall. Long Haoshi and Long Li followed him out.
"Father."
"Chen'Er, this is the perfect chance for us to get revenge. In a moment, don't hold back in the slightest. Kill him on the spot. I, your father, will bear all consequences."
"Understood." Nodding viciously, the three members of the Yang Family also left the main hall. News of Long Ao challenging Yang Chen spread throughout the entire Long Family in the blink of an eye. In no time, the open space in front of the main hall was crowded with Long Family disciples, as well as disciples from the Yang Family and other families who had rushed over after hearing the news.