Yu Xiaogang sank into dejection, the light in his eyes gradually dimming.
Seeing his younger brother's dispirited state, Yu Xiaolong turned to the coachman. "Sorry for the trouble. You can leave now."
The coachman nodded, but took two coins from inside his clothes and carefully placed them on the bed where Yu Xiaogang lay.
"These two Gold Soul Coins are what I owe you. Don't go saying I don't keep my word. I'm off..."
With that, the coachman hurried away, leaving Yu Xiaogang so frustrated he nearly spat blood.
Yu Xiaolong sighed again, looking at Yu Xiaogang as he tried to persuade him.
"Little brother, can you stop making trouble? What you've done at the Great Soul Arena lately really has disgraced the clan. If you still refuse to return and Second Uncle and the elders find out, I'm afraid even Father won't be able to protect you.
"That woman named Bibi Dong is the Spirit Hall Supreme Pontiff's only disciple, and she's being groomed as the next Supreme Pontiff. Leaving aside the fact that she has no interest in you, even if you loved each other, you couldn't be together. Spirit Hall would never give up such an outstanding candidate to succeed the Supreme Pontiff."
As the saying went, those caught in the game were lost, while onlookers saw clearly. Yu Xiaolong saw things far more clearly than Yu Xiaogang did.
Once he learned Bibi Dong's true identity, he understood that his younger brother's love could only be one-sided. Nothing could ever come of it.
But Yu Xiaogang did not think so. He felt that Zhao Ling was the only obstacle to being with Bibi Dong.
As long as Zhao Ling ceased to exist, he could be with Bibi Dong in the future.
The gulf between their statuses was not as vast as his elder brother claimed. Lovers could ultimately become husband and wife.
He was confident he could persuade Miss Dong'er. After all, she was so reasonable and understanding.
"Big Brother, stop trying to persuade me. My answer hasn't changed. I don't want to leave. Even if you drag me back now, I'll escape again sooner or later.
"No one can stop my determination to be with Miss Dong'er. As long as Miss Dong'er never leaves or abandons me, I, Yu Xiaogang, will stand by her in life and death!"
Yu Xiaogang snorted and turned away from his elder brother. His resolute words made Yu Xiaolong want to bang his head against the wall.
He simply could not understand why his younger brother was so stubborn. And that line about "as long as Miss Dong'er never leaves or abandons me, I, Yu Xiaogang, will stand by her in life and death"-anyone who didn't know better would think his younger brother was a saint of love.
Yu Xiaolong clenched his fists, forcibly suppressing the urge to slap his younger brother across the face a few dozen times.
"Little brother, let me tell you, Father ordered me to bring you back by force. Even if I have to break your legs, you're coming back to the clan.
"But in exchange, I can grant you one request. As long as it's within my power, I'll agree. This is already the greatest concession I can make. I hope you won't take a mile when given an inch."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang fell silent. He understood that, now that things had reached this point, refusing to return was impossible.
If his elder brother did not care for him, if another cousin, his second uncle, or an elder had come instead, they might really have broken his legs and hauled him back to the clan.
After some thought, Yu Xiaogang decided that since returning to the clan was inevitable, he had to have his elder brother avenge him once.
Ideally, he would give that Zhao fellow a vicious beating and make him get out of Suotuo City, so he could no longer seduce Miss Dong'er.
At that thought, Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up. He might be the shame of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but his elder brother wasn't.
His elder brother had perfectly inherited the clan's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.
Given his elder brother's current age and strength, he fell only a little short of the Clear Sky Sect's "Clear Sky Twin Stars" among their peers. Dealing with that Zhao fellow should not be too difficult.
The only thing Yu Xiaogang found troublesome was that Zhao fellow's special Soul Skill, which let him transfer damage to someone else when he slapped his own face.
Yu Xiaogang had experienced that special Soul Skill firsthand. It had cost him ten whole teeth.
At that thought, Yu Xiaogang turned toward his elder brother and spoke solemnly.
"All right, Big Brother. I can agree to go back with you, but I want you to teach someone a lesson for me. His surname is Zhao. He's ambushed me time and again. Most of my injuries were inflicted by him."
Naturally, Yu Xiaolong did not believe this claim. Between yesterday and today, he had already asked many people to verify what had happened.
The ones who had punished his younger brother were mainly that woman named Bibi Dong and the Spirit Hall personnel.
As for the man surnamed Zhao whom his younger brother hated, that had more to do with the possibility that they were rivals in love.
But none of that mattered. As long as it got his younger brother to return home obediently, helping him teach that Zhao fellow a lesson was no problem.
That Zhao fellow had neither power nor influence, yet dared offend his younger brother by currying favor with Spirit Hall's people. He would have to pay the price.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall were at odds anyway, and it would be difficult to attack Spirit Hall's people directly. Targeting someone close to Spirit Hall, beating the mountain to frighten the tiger, was the best choice.
The corners of Yu Xiaolong's mouth rose into a savage smile.
"Little brother, I'll grant your request. But let me make this clear beforehand: once I've dealt with that Zhao fellow, you're coming back to the clan with me obediently, no matter what you say.
"If you dare go back on your word, don't blame me for getting rough. I hope you won't make things difficult for me..."
Hearing his elder brother agree, Yu Xiaogang nodded repeatedly in excitement.
"No problem, Big Brother. As long as you deal with that beast Zhao for me, I'll return to the clan with you immediately. If I don't see that fellow get a beating, I don't think I'll be able to close my eyes even in death."
Yu Xiaolong frowned at those words. "What's all this talk about dying? Don't talk nonsense. Keep spouting rubbish, and see if I don't beat you!"
"Yes, Big Brother. I won't say it again, I won't." Yu Xiaogang nodded, smiling so joyfully that it was as though he would see his elder brother avenge him in the very next moment.
Suddenly remembering Zhao Ling's strange Soul Skill, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly warned Yu Xiaolong.
"Oh, right, Big Brother. That Zhao brat has a special Soul Skill. It seems he can transfer damage to someone else when he slaps his own face. It's extremely strange. Be careful. Don't let him catch you out with it."
Transfer damage? Yu Xiaolong frowned. He had never heard of such a Soul Skill.
But he did not take it to heart. He believed that, before absolute strength, all schemes and tricks were futile...
Chapter 65: Weren't You So Arrogant?
Having agreed to his younger brother's request, Yu Xiaolong felt he should deal with that scourge Zhao as soon as possible.
However, he had never seen the man, so he first needed to arrange treatment for his younger brother's injuries, then take him along to identify him.
Thus, Yu Xiaolong spent some money to hire a Soul Saint-level Healing-type Soul Master from the Great Soul Arena to treat his younger brother.
Although this Healing-type Soul Saint no longer wanted to see that detestable face, the generous payment persuaded him to agree, and he completely healed Yu Xiaogang's thoracic vertebra injuries.
As for the injury to his left flank, the Healing-type Soul Saint exhausted all his Soul Power without managing to heal it completely.
He also told the Yu brothers that the kidney had been seriously injured and might suffer lingering complications.
There was practically no need to spell out what those complications might be: nothing other than possible impotence or infertility.
The Healing-type Soul Saint's words made both brothers' expressions change drastically. Of the three forms of unfilial conduct, leaving no descendants was the gravest.
If Yu Xiaogang completely lost his ability to father children, his standing in the clan would surely plummet once again.
Agitated, Yu Xiaogang stood with his left hand supporting his waist and grabbed the Healing-type Soul Saint's arm with his right.
"Y-you were lying about all that just now, weren't you? It can't be that serious. I was only kicked once in the waist. How could that cause such a serious problem? You're lying, aren't you?"
The Healing-type Soul Saint sighed softly and spoke with a solemn expression.
"There's no need to get so agitated. Fortunately, only the left side was injured. The right side is still intact. Perhaps the effects won't be too serious."
With that, the Healing-type Soul Saint wiped the fine sweat from his face with a handkerchief, bade the brothers farewell, and hurried back to the Great Soul Arena.
Yu Xiaolong's face had turned utterly dark. Looking at his somewhat distraught younger brother, his brow furrowed even more tightly.
"Xiaogang, in the days since you injured your waist, have you had... every morning?"
Yu Xiaogang froze and sank into thought. It seemed that, since the kick had injured his waist, he really hadn't...
At once, he felt unable to remain standing and nearly toppled backward. It was over. His life was probably over.
Yu Xiaolong hurriedly caught his younger brother, his eyes filled with boundless fury.
"Little brother, which bastard was vicious enough to injure your waist so badly? I'll break his arms and legs! I'll make him unable to live or die! Even if he's from Spirit Hall, I won't let him off."
Yu Xiaogang's face was also filled with boundless fury. "I don't know exactly who it was. At the time, I was holding a wooden stool and trying to knock that Zhao fellow unconscious to avenge myself.
"But instead of getting my revenge, I was kicked two meters away. That person kept smashing me with the wooden stool until I passed out. Damn it..."
He simply could not understand. He had only wanted to get revenge on that Zhao fellow once. Why wouldn't Heaven let him succeed even once? Heaven truly had no eyes!
"Xiaogang, it's all right. I'll find a way to cure you. Even if I can't, with our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's resources, finding a Healing-type Soul Master who can resolve those lingering complications shouldn't be a problem."
Unwilling to see his younger brother looking dejected all day, Yu Xiaolong hurriedly comforted him.
Yu Xiaogang nodded, his expression easing, but only he knew the bitterness in his heart.
He had been thinking of pursuing Miss Dong'er. But if he became impotent, wouldn't pursuing her only hold her back?
What normal woman would accept an impotent good-for-nothing? Was she supposed to live like a widow with a living husband?
Whenever he thought of this, endless fury surged through Yu Xiaogang's heart, and his mindset grew increasingly twisted.
He had already secretly decided that not only must that Zhao fellow die, but the person who had seriously injured his waist must die too.
Of course, Yu Xiaogang knew his own limits. He knew his talents would never let him avenge this hatred, but he had his elder brother, his father, and the mighty Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
With the clan's help, wouldn't killing that Zhao fellow and the person who had kicked his kidney be a matter of minutes?
Having made up their minds, the brothers left the hotel with members of the collateral branches and headed straight for the Great Soul Arena.
Yu Xiaogang told Yu Xiaolong that, ever since arriving in Suotuo City, that Zhao fellow had gone to the Great Soul Arena to watch the matches every day, almost without fail.
So Yu Xiaolong intended to see just what that damned Zhao fellow looked like.
Of course, Yu Xiaolong was no fool. He would not handle things as rashly as his younger brother.
He would never choose to attack his target somewhere like the Great Soul Arena. After all, that Zhao fellow reportedly got along very well with Spirit Hall's people.
If he went charging over to pick a fight and some sneaky Spirit Hall bastard suddenly sprang out of the crowd and kicked him in the waist, crippling him too-just imagining it made Yu Xiaolong shudder.
More importantly, if Spirit Hall had sent people to Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena, there was no reason it would not send an elder-level expert to protect them.
If he picked a fight with that Zhao fellow and a Spirit Hall elder intervened, whether he could escape alive would be questionable.
So he felt it would be best to wait until Zhao Ling was alone or had relatively few people with him before confronting him. That would give him better odds.
But after the brothers stood on a raised platform and scanned the entire spectator area several times, they found only the Spirit Hall group, not that bastard Zhao. Yu Xiaogang trembled with anger.
"Big Brother, that Zhao fellow doesn't seem to have come today. Maybe yesterday's commotion was so big that he figured out our relationship. He's afraid you'll come after him, so he's hiding and doesn't dare show his face."
Yu Xiaogang sounded utterly certain. After all, among their generation, his elder brother was second only to the Clear Sky Sect's two favored sons of Heaven, and that Zhao fellow looked about the same age as his elder brother.
Presumably, his strength fell short of his elder brother's, and only his methods were rather strange. Before absolute strength, that Zhao fellow could never defeat his elder brother.
Precisely because of this, Yu Xiaogang felt that Zhao Ling's failure to appear at the Great Soul Arena meant he was hiding from his elder brother. The thought gave him a sense of vindication.
Zhao, so even you have a day like this! Weren't you so arrogant? If you've got the guts, come act arrogant in front of my big brother!
You used to flatter Spirit Hall and rely on their protection to act arrogant beyond all bounds, constantly making trouble for me. Why have you become a turtle hiding its head now?
At first, Yu Xiaolong did not agree with his younger brother's reasoning.
But he could not explain why someone who came to the Great Soul Arena every day without fail to watch the matches would suddenly stop daring to appear on the second day after his arrival.
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed the man was hiding from him. After thinking it over repeatedly, he too concluded that the other party must be avoiding him, which made him feel somewhat smug.
"It's fine, little brother. At worst, we'll wait a few days. Unless that Zhao fellow has fled Suotuo City, we'll run into him sooner or later. Hmph..."
Chapter 66: For Self-preservation
It was another bright morning, sunlight slanting across the snow-white wall.
Zhao Ling had just woken and had yet to open his eyes when he felt a soft body throw itself into his arms and plant a smacking kiss on his cheek.
Zhao Ling slowly opened his star-bright eyes and smiled at the beauty nestled in his arms.
"What's this? Yesterday, you finally managed to beg me to spare you for a day, and today you can't wait to throw yourself at me?"
With that, Zhao Ling wrapped both hands around the girl's slender waist, frightening the color from her lovely face.
"No, no, Brother Ling, I was wrong. Let's get up and have breakfast. We still have to go to the Great Soul Arena to watch Sister Dong'er and the others compete.
"We didn't go yesterday, so she must think it's strange. If we don't go today either, she might think we've already left Suotuo City."
Zhao Ling also knew he could not truly keep indulging himself. If he lost control for a moment, the entire day would probably be wasted in the room.
He had to marvel that the primary barbarian battle body's threefold physique boost really was something.
Having tasted the marrow and learned its savor, Zhao Ling hurriedly climbed out of bed, dressed, and headed for the bathroom.
He did not dare admire Ah Yin's graceful figure any longer, lest he turn into a ravenous wolf.
Ah Yin understood this perfectly well too. She hurriedly changed out of her nightdress, tidied her appearance, then sat elegantly at the dressing table to apply some light makeup.
It took the two of them an hour in total to leave the room. To their surprise, a beautiful girl with an angel's face and a devil's figure stood by the stairs. Seeing them emerge from the room together, her eyes filled with complicated feelings.
Zhao Ling and Ah Yin had not expected Bibi Dong to be waiting for them by the stairs. For a moment, they were so embarrassed they wanted to gouge an entire villa out of the floor with their toes.
They stared at each other for nearly a minute before Zhao Ling finally offered Bibi Dong a tentative smile and spoke.
Before you continue