Tomorrow, No More Lapdog!

Time slipped quietly by.

Past midnight, at the Yang Family residence.

The house was silent except for the occasional chirp of insects.

In Yang Xiaoran's bedroom, she and Lin Yun had clearly just finished a passionate encounter.

Under the dim light, Lin Yun slept soundly, his breathing even.

Yang Xiaoran nestled against him, a faint flush still on her cheeks.

She lifted her head and studied his face by the moonlight streaming through the window.

A smile crept onto her lips.

At last, she and Brother Lin Yun were together.

Her heart brimmed with happiness. She was about to bury her face in his chest and fall asleep when a voice suddenly reached her through a private transmission.

"Xiaoran, is Lin Yun asleep?"

It was Yang Mingyou.

Even through the transmission, he spoke cautiously, as if afraid someone might overhear.

Yang Xiaoran froze for a moment, then replied, "He's asleep. What is it, Dad?"

Hearing that Lin Yun was asleep, Yang Mingyou visibly relaxed. A note of urgency entered his voice.

"Come out for a moment. I need to talk to you."

Yang Xiaoran had no idea why, but she would still listen to her father.

She carefully eased Lin Yun's arm off her and slipped out of bed.

After getting dressed, she quietly left the room.

In the main hall, Yang Mingyou sat holding a teacup, though the tea had long gone cold.

"What is it, Dad? Why did you call me out so late?"

Yang Xiaoran walked over and noticed something wrong with his expression.

Yang Mingyou said nothing. He merely looked up at her.

She was clearly walking stiffly, each step a little awkward.

And with good reason.

The insides of her thighs still felt weak.

At the sight, Yang Mingyou was thunderstruck.

He froze, nearly dropping the teacup in his hand.

When he failed to answer, Yang Xiaoran called out again.

"Dad?"

Only then did Yang Mingyou come back to his senses.

Inside, though, he was falling apart.

He had called Yang Xiaoran out so late partly because he feared the two young people might get carried away and do something they shouldn't.

He had also wanted to prepare her: if Lin Yun lost, she would have to submit to Li Yao to preserve the Yang Family.

After all, Li Yao had spent three years chasing after Yang Xiaoran. He couldn't simply stop loving her overnight.

Unless he had become a different person, how could he let go of three years of feelings so quickly?

When the time came, they could make Li Yao promises and sweet-talk him. Perhaps things between him and Yang Xiaoran could even go back to how they had been.

But now...

It was too late.

What young master would want a woman who had already been with someone else?

At the thought, Yang Mingyou's face went ashen.

"Ah, never mind. Go back and get some sleep, Xiaoran."

Yang Mingyou sighed. In the end, that was all he said.

"How strange."

Yang Xiaoran's face darkened.

What had gotten into her dad tonight?

But with the way her mind worked, how could she have guessed what he was thinking?

Though baffled, she turned and left.

Watching Yang Xiaoran walk away, Yang Mingyou sighed again.

"Ah. All I can do is pin my hopes on Lin Yun."

Muttering to himself, he took a sip of cold tea. Its bitterness made him grimace.

Meanwhile, at Li Family Manor.

Li Yao had just finished a video call with Li Zhiyun and Sun Zhiyun.

During the call, Li Wenbin had recounted in detail how Li Yao had won this year's Martial Arts Tournament.

Li Zhiyun and Sun Zhiyun had been thrilled, praising Li Yao without end.

"That's my boy! You really are my son!"

"You were wonderful, Yao'er! Mom is so proud of you!"

After that, Li Yao called Li Fuhai to ask how he was doing.

After hanging up, the smile gradually faded from Li Yao's face.

His gaze turned cold.

"Uncle Wenbin," he called.

"Young master."

Li Wenbin answered from where he stood nearby.

"Is everything ready?"

"Everything is in place. One Martial King has arrived at the Yang Family residence, and the other two are standing by."

Li Wenbin's tone was calm.

"Good! Tomorrow, we collect what they owe!"

"Everything they took from me, I'll make them give back, one piece at a time."

Li Yao gave a cold laugh.

He was still weakened, with the aftereffects of the Qi-Explosion Pill lingering.

He could easily wait three days before going to the Yang Family.

By then, he would be back at full strength and ready for anything.

But he could not wait any longer.

If he wanted to shed his reputation as a lapdog, winning the Martial Arts Tournament was only part of it. The other, more important part was the Yang Family.

Yang Xiaoran.

He would take back everything Yang Xiaoran had gotten from him.

Then the Yang Family would cease to exist.

And he would no longer be the lapdog everyone mocked.

As for his lack of strength right now, and his safety...

"One Martial King will handle the job. The other two can protect me. Perfect."

That settled it. They could protect him better than he could protect himself anyway.

"By the way, young master, should I bring in a few more Ninth Rank Martial Masters?"

Li Wenbin asked.

"No need. Three Martial Kings are enough. If they can't settle this, any number of Ninth Rank Martial Masters would be useless."

Li Yao waved a hand.

"True."

Li Wenbin nodded.

"All right, Uncle Wenbin. You should get some rest too."

Li Yao stretched.

"Yes, young master."

With that, Li Yao turned and went back to his room.