Now Zhao Ling had finally parted ways with the people from Spirit Hall. Without their protection, even if that fellow survived this time, he would have several layers of skin peeled off.
Overjoyed, Yu Xiaogang and Yu Xiaolong exchanged a glance before declaring resolutely,
"Big brother, the time has come. That Zhao fellow is yours to deal with. I want him to experience the pain I suffered. I want him unable to live or die."
The corners of Yu Xiaolong's mouth curled into a confident smile. "Don't worry, second brother. Among our peers, aside from the brothers Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, I don't think much of anyone else.
"That Zhao fellow dared bully you time and again. Today, your big brother will show him that beyond every man stands a greater man, and beyond every sky lies another heaven."
With that, Yu Xiaolong swept his sleeve and strode briskly outside. Yu Xiaogang happily followed his elder brother.
The two collateral clan members shook their heads speechlessly, finding it all rather laughable.
When Yu Xiaolong first arrived in Suotuo City, he had already investigated everything. The people who had repeatedly knocked the second young master unconscious were from Spirit Hall. It had little to do with that Zhao fellow.
Now, to vent the second young master's anger and make him obediently return to the clan, the eldest young master was lying through his teeth, claiming that Zhao had repeatedly humiliated him.
After repeating that story so often, the eldest young master probably believed it himself by now.
How fucking hypocritical. Wasn't it simply because those people from Spirit Hall were difficult to provoke, and both young masters knew they couldn't afford to offend them, that they had turned their spears on Zhao?
Hemp rope always snapped at its thinnest point, and misfortune always sought out the unfortunate. Alas, that Zhao fellow really did have a bitter lot. He was probably in for a terrible disaster this time...
Chapter 71: Will you apologize?
With the two collateral clan members leading the way, Yu Xiaolong and Yu Xiaogang soon found Zhao Ling and Ah Yin strolling through the night market.
Seven or eight people surrounded them, staring at Zhao Ling with hostile expressions.
Yu Xiaogang's face brimmed with smugness. "Zhao, you repeatedly humiliated me in public and struck me viciously time and again. If I hadn't been lucky enough to survive, and if the Great Soul Arena's higher-ups hadn't helped me, I would probably have fallen at your hands long ago.
"I, Yu Xiaogang, have long wanted to settle that score, but you kept clinging to those people from Spirit Hall. Heaven took pity on me and finally gave me a chance. Today, you will pay for what you've done."
Once Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, Yu Xiaolong stepped forward twice, looking at Zhao Ling with an imposing expression.
"Originally, I had no intention of interfering in the matter between you and my younger brother. But you've bullied him repeatedly. If I, his elder brother, don't step forward to demand justice, outsiders may think the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's second young master is easy prey.
"How about this? I, Yu Xiaolong, am not someone who enjoys bullying the weak. You bullied my younger brother, but we can let bygones be bygones. All you need to do is kneel and kowtow to him three times, loudly enough to hear, and I'll let you and your wife go. Otherwise..."
Looking at Yu Xiaogang and the man beside him who bore a fifty- or sixty-percent resemblance to him, Zhao Ling's mouth twitched violently.
So this fellow called Yu Xiaolong is Yu Xiaogang's biological elder brother. He looks about thirty. His strength is probably only rank fifty or sixty at most, right?
Compared with that useless second brother of his, he's certainly impressive. But compared with me, he seems like trash.
Where exactly did he get the courage to demand that I kneel and apologize to his second brother? Is he sure there isn't a hole in his brain?
Seeing Zhao Ling's twitching mouth and utterly speechless expression, Ah Yin couldn't help bursting into laughter, trembling like a flowering branch.
"Hehe, darling, he actually wants you to kneel before his second brother. He thinks he's strong-strong enough to humiliate you like this. How funny...
"I wonder where he found the courage. The likes of them want to make you kneel? An old dog yawning-what a big mouth. Hehe..."
Ah Yin's laughter instantly darkened both Yu Xiaolong's and Yu Xiaogang's faces.
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists tightly, his eyes fixed on Zhao Ling and Ah Yin.
In his view, he really was worthless, so there was nothing surprising about being mocked like that.
But his elder brother was different. He wasn't even thirty yet, and his strength had already reached the sixties.
Such talent was second only to those two favored sons of heaven from the Clear Sky Sect, yet he was still being mocked so mercilessly.
Wasn't this a vicious slap to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's face?
Yu Xiaolong shook with rage. What outrageous arrogance! What sort of existence is our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?
It's one of the Upper Three Sects, a great clan and great sect that can hold its head high across the entire Douluo Continent.
What is this Zhao fellow? I've never heard of any great clan surnamed Zhao, much less a Titled Douluo with that surname.
How is making this Zhao fellow kowtow three times to my second brother an insult to him?
Besides, he's repeatedly bullied the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's second young master. Shouldn't he apologize?
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Yu Xiaolong's reason reminded him that, according to his earlier investigation, Zhao had rarely targeted his second brother. The ones who had truly humiliated him were that woman called Bibi Dong and those outstanding members of Spirit Hall.
But the next moment, he flung reason beyond the nine heavens. So what if Zhao rarely targeted my second brother?
He has countless ties to those people from Spirit Hall and keeps currying favor with them. That alone makes him guilty. He ought to bear the main responsibility.
With that thought, Yu Xiaolong wasted no more words and instantly released his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.
An enormous blue dragon, lightning flickering all over its body, appeared behind him, looking majestic and domineering.
His soul ring configuration of two yellow, two purple, and two black rings revealed him to be a Battle Soul Emperor in the sixties. His imposing presence continued to rise as he stared straight at Zhao Ling.
"I'll say it one more time. Will you apologize? If you don't, you won't have another chance. The dignity of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is not yours to trample."
Watching the awe-inspiring Yu Xiaolong, Yu Xiaogang and the collateral clan members gazed at him with burning eyes.
This was their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's eldest young master. How mighty he was!
Passersby in the night market also stopped to watch. Seeing the huge, powerful phantom of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul behind Yu Xiaolong, some couldn't help crying out.
"It's-it's the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Martial Soul! Six soul rings at such a young age. He must be a direct descendant of the clan."
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Isn't that one of the great clans among the Upper Three Sects? This man actually offended them? He's finished. He's probably done for."
"Hurry up and kneel. You can save your life with just three kowtows. Isn't that a good bargain? That's a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
The discussions grew louder. The onlookers all agreed that Zhao Ling had no option but to kneel and admit his fault, and their gazes filled with pity.
Zhao Ling and Ah Yin found this laughable. They both watched indifferently to see what Yu Xiaolong would do next.
Zhao Ling didn't even feel the urge to release his Martial Soul. Against a mere piece of trash in the sixties, he refused to believe that the physical strength granted by his primary barbarian battle body and threefold physique enhancement would fall short.
Seeing Zhao Ling remain indifferent, arrogantly refusing even to release his Martial Soul, Yu Xiaolong felt belittled. Unbidden fury surged in his heart, and without considering anything else, he directly unleashed his second Martial Soul, Thunder Dragon Claw.
An enormous dragon claw instantly formed over his hand. Roaring furiously, he lunged for Zhao Ling's throat. Seeing that Zhao Ling hadn't moved once from beginning to end, or even bothered to release his Martial Soul, Yu Xiaolong sneered inwardly.
This idiot really is arrogant. I'm a Soul Emperor, after all, yet this Zhao fellow won't even activate his Martial Soul. He's just standing there like a fool. Is he worried he won't die quickly enough?
Still, Yu Xiaolong felt that someone who dared look down on him and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan like this deserved death. He had brought it upon himself. A vicious gleam flashed through Yu Xiaolong's eyes as he shouted, "Die!"
But when the dragon claw formed over his hand closed around Zhao Ling's neck, it couldn't advance another inch. It was as though his claw had gripped refined steel. Yu Xiaolong's expression instantly froze.
H-how is this possible? How could this happen? Th-this has to be a joke, right?
Through his dazed eyes, Yu Xiaolong saw a chilling smile suddenly appear on Zhao Ling's indifferent face.
The next instant, a palm as large as a cattail fan swung straight at his face, landing with a dull sound.
Smack...
Chapter 72: The unfortunate brothers
Zhao Ling's slap sent Yu Xiaolong spinning like a top for three and a half turns before he swayed and collapsed. The left side of his face swelled immediately.
His left cheek burned with pain. A salty, metallic taste filled his mouth, and he spat out a mouthful of blood along with seven or eight dislodged teeth.
Before he could react, he saw Zhao Ling crouch down and swing that fan-sized palm at his right cheek.
Smack... Another dull sound rang out. Yu Xiaolong felt his right cheek begin to burn as well, while more teeth fell out.
Instantly, rage shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Glaring at Zhao Ling with murderous eyes, he screamed hysterically,
"You-you dare hit-"
Smack... Before Yu Xiaolong could finish, Zhao Ling slapped him across the face again.
The blow left his head buzzing, with a piercing ringing in his left ear.
"So what if I hit you? Who the hell are you to talk to me like that?" Zhao Ling looked at him coldly.
"You actually wanted me to kowtow and apologize to you. Never mind you-even if your father came, beating him up wouldn't be difficult for me. Tell me, where exactly did you find the courage to make me kneel before you two pieces of trash?"
With that, Zhao Ling pressed Yu Xiaolong's head down and smashed it against the ground. Yu Xiaolong tried several times to unleash his strength and break free.
But to his shock, he discovered that he was now like a helpless little chick, able only to let Zhao Ling toy with him.
Bang, bang, bang...
As Zhao Ling repeatedly slammed his head into the ground, a crater formed in the stone paving.
Dense, bloodstained cracks spread around the crater. Before long, Yu Xiaolong lost consciousness from his severe head injuries.
Zhao Ling's brutality stunned everyone present. Yu Xiaogang and the collateral members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan trembled in terror, not daring to step forward to stop him.
Only when Zhao Ling tossed the unconscious Yu Xiaolong at their feet like garbage did Yu Xiaogang and the collateral clan members dare rush forward to check his injuries.
Seeing his elder brother unconscious and covered in mangled flesh and blood, Yu Xiaogang flew into a towering rage and lunged at Zhao Ling with a roar.
"Zhao, I'll fight you to the death!!!"
But his movements were simply too slow. Even though he lunged at Zhao Ling with all his strength, Zhao Ling easily dodged him. He tried to turn around, but Zhao Ling had already pinned his head in place, leaving him unable to struggle free.
The next moment, he felt a kick behind his knee. His legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees with a thud. Zhao Ling's mocking voice reached his ears.
"Gangzi, the people you brought this time were too weak. You've really disappointed me. They couldn't even make me use my Martial Soul. Remember to drag your father or your clan elders into this next time, and I won't beat you.
"You didn't let me enjoy myself this time, so you're still getting your beating. Since you like having others kowtow to you so much, have a good few kowtows yourself."
With that, Zhao Ling also slammed Yu Xiaogang's head into the ground. Before long, a much smaller crater appeared beside the one made by Yu Xiaolong's head.
Seeing both brothers unconscious, the six collateral members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan didn't dare let out so much as a fart. They lowered their heads fearfully, not daring to meet Zhao Ling's sharp, hawklike eyes.
They feared that one moment of displeasure would make Zhao Ling grab their heads and smash them against the ground with a series of clangs as well. The onlookers also retreated several meters in fright, afraid of being dragged into it.
Zhao Ling gave a somewhat savage smile, tossed the unconscious Yu Xiaogang onto the ground, then walked over to Ah Yin, slipped an arm around her graceful, willow-slender waist, and left.
While teaching the brothers Yu Xiaolong and Yu Xiaogang a lesson, Zhao Ling had carefully controlled his strength.
Although both their heads looked like bloody masses of mangled flesh, they certainly wouldn't die from injuries that were too severe.
However, Yu Xiaolong's injuries were far more serious than Yu Xiaogang's. With the help of a high-level Healing-type Soul Master, Yu Xiaogang would recover fully in a few days at most.
Yu Xiaolong was different. Zhao Ling had deliberately inflicted his injuries, and his brain had definitely been damaged.
As for the extent of the damage, that was unclear. He might lose his memories, become an idiot, or end up in a vegetative state. What ultimately happened to him would depend on his own fate.
Only after Zhao Ling had walked far away with his arm around Ah Yin did the six collateral clan members show their anxiety. Supporting Yu Xiaolong and Yu Xiaogang, they ran toward the Great Soul Arena.
Aside from the city's Spirit Hall Branch, the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena was the only place in Suotuo City where a high-level Healing-type Soul Master could easily be found.
Their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was at odds with Spirit Hall, so they naturally couldn't seek a Healing-type Soul Master at its branch. Their only option was to ask the Great Soul Arena for help.
Meanwhile, Liu Erlong, who had witnessed everything from a distance, opened her mouth, unsure what to say for a moment.
As someone who shared the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's bloodline, she should have stood with her clan. Yet she had secretly warned Zhao Ling and Ah Yin instead, and she felt she had betrayed the blood flowing through her veins.
But as a beneficiary of "Zhao Ling's Diary Copy," she also felt that she had done the right thing. Most importantly, her two cousins had courted death themselves this time.
They clearly lacked the strength, yet they had dared provoke a Titled Douluo.
That Titled Douluo hadn't killed them outright. He had merely followed their own words and pressed their heads against the ground for a few resounding kowtows. That was already a great act of mercy.
Had Zhao Ling been a more vicious Titled Douluo, not only her two cousins but even the other six collateral clan members would probably have died. They might even have implicated the clan.
Thus, Liu Erlong soon flung her guilt beyond the nine heavens. She hadn't done anything wrong. The ones at fault were her two blind cousins...
When the Healing-type Soul Saints retained by the Great Soul Arena saw the bloodied, mangled brothers, countless choice national curses were all they wanted to unleash.
Especially when they looked at the unrecognizable Yu Xiaogang. They had truly had enough of this troublemaking fellow. He really was irritating.
The person in charge of the Great Soul Arena was equally furious and wanted to curse someone's mother. He found it baffling. Did all direct descendants of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan enjoy causing trouble this much?
Previously, this second young master Yu had caused trouble every few days, and what a miserable beating he had received.
He had previously sent people to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to summon someone to Suotuo City so they could take this second young master Yu home.
Yet the clan's eldest young master apparently wasn't one to sit quietly either. He enjoyed causing trouble just as much. Well, now both brothers had been thoroughly beaten into submission. What gluttons for punishment...
Chapter 73: Quite a thick skin
After bringing Ah Yin back to the hotel, Zhao Ling gently kissed her smooth forehead and instructed her,
"Ah Yin, I'm going to meet the woman who passed us that message and see who she is. Take a bath first. Once your husband returns, I'll lavish you with affection.
"Don't worry. Your husband has no other intentions in seeking that woman out. I simply want to investigate her identity. I promise I'll be right back."
Before you continue