When the Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer arrived in Yu Xiaogang's room and saw his face swollen like a pig's head, he frowned slightly. Still, he said nothing and began treating him.
A dozen or so minutes later, the swelling from the slaps had subsided, and Yu Xiaogang finally regained consciousness.
Unlike his older brother, however, Yu Xiaogang had neither become an idiot nor lost his memory. He merely felt groggy, with severe ringing in his ears, nausea, and the urge to vomit.
He clutched his head, his expression pained. Puzzled, the Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer dutifully asked about his condition.
After learning his symptoms, the Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer realized that he had suffered a "Brain Concussion"-what Zhao Ling's original world would call a concussion.
Even his Nine Heart Begonia could do nothing for this condition. Yu Xiaogang could only recuperate slowly and let his body recover gradually. No one could say how long that would take.
Still, this Brain Concussion was not too serious a problem. It was better than becoming an idiot outright, as his older brother had. Amid his headache, Yu Xiaogang suddenly remembered the kick to his left waist and hurriedly asked tentatively.
"Elder Ye, could you treat my waist too? Back in Suotuo City, someone kicked me there.
"The Great Soul Arena's Healing-type Soul Saint said this injury might leave lingering damage. If it can't be cured, I might... might be unable to perform as a man for the rest of my life. Please help me, Elder Ye..."
Chapter 78: Ten Years in the Dungeon
His kidney had been injured by a kick? The Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer grew serious. "How long ago was your waist injured?"
Yu Xiaogang pondered for a moment before answering, "A little over a week. Someone treated me before, but they couldn't cure it completely. I still keep getting bouts of pain."
The Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer hurriedly examined Yu Xiaogang, then treated him with Nine Heart Begonia.
Soon, Yu Xiaogang felt the pain in his kidney ease, though a dull ache remained. Compared to the pain that had made him bare his teeth and grimace before, he found this dull ache tolerable.
Even the Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer could not say whether this dull ache was lingering damage or whether it would affect Yu Xiaogang's ability to carry on the family line. After all, over a week had passed.
Still, the Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer soon began reassuring Yu Xiaogang.
"Actually, you don't need to worry so much. Only the left side of your waist was injured. The right side is fine, so it shouldn't have much impact. Have faith in yourself. You'll recover sooner or later."
At these words, Yu Xiaogang could only mutter inwardly, It didn't happen to you. Of course you think there's no need to worry so much. Heh.
However, Yu Xiaogang dared not say that aloud. Otherwise, he suspected his father might beat him to death.
"By the way, Elder Ye, how is my older brother? He... he's all right, isn't he?"
Yu Xiaogang hurriedly changed the subject, asking in a tentative tone.
"Your older brother... ah..." The Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer heaved a heavy sigh, his expression grave, immediately making Yu Xiaogang realize something was wrong.
"Elder Ye, what is it? What exactly happened to my older brother?" Yu Xiaogang's heart pounded with alarm.
He knew that although his older brother had been badly injured, as long as he could be saved, there would be no major consequences. However angry his father and the elders were, they would not make things too difficult for him.
But if his older brother had not survived, he would truly be finished. Neither his father, his second uncle, nor the elders would let him off easily.
"Go see for yourself..." The Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer shook his head, turned, and left.
His willingness to come and save the two of them was already a considerable courtesy. They could hardly expect him to stay in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan forever, could they?
With his head spinning badly, Yu Xiaogang got out of bed and made his way to his older brother's room, supporting himself against the wall.
The moment he entered, before he had even glanced at the bed, he noticed his father and sister-in-law slumped on the floor with grief-stricken faces. Thinking his older brother had died, tears immediately poured from his eyes like a spring, and he began wailing.
"Brother! Brother, I got you killed! I'm sorry! I didn't know that bastard Zhao was so terrifyingly powerful! I'm sorry! If I'd known that bastard was so terrifyingly powerful, I never would have..."
Hearing his second son wailing like a pig being slaughtered, Yu Yuanzhen's anger flared. He stood, rushed over to his son, and slapped him again.
As the saying went, endure for a moment, and the more you thought about it, the angrier you became; take a step back, and the more you thought about it, the more you felt cheated. His outstanding eldest son had become an idiot, while his useless second son had merely lost a few teeth.
At that thought, Yu Yuanzhen swung both hands in turn, delivering several more slaps to his second son's face.
Smack... Only after a series of dull impacts did Yu Xiaogang hear his father roar, "What are you wailing for? Your older brother isn't dead!"
"Not dead? So he isn't dead yet." Dizzy and seeing stars, Yu Xiaogang looked stunned and hurriedly stopped crying.
He smacked his lips and realized that, despite those slaps, no teeth had fallen out. He ran his tongue around his mouth.
Only then did he discover that every one of his good teeth was already gone. Still, this was not the time to dwell on that. He only wanted to see what had happened to his older brother.
He staggered to the bedside. Looking at his older brother lying there with a foolish grin, the buzzing in his head grew even louder.
He had never imagined that his older brother, with a lifetime of distinction, would become an idiot who could only grin because of him. He, too, slumped helplessly to the floor.
This outcome chilled his heart even more than his older brother's death would have.
He could hardly imagine how the clan elders would target him now that his older brother, who had always been the pride of their father and the elders, had become an idiot.
Right now, he truly wanted to atone with his death. He felt that if dying could extinguish the anger in his father's and the elders' hearts, he would not hesitate at all.
But... how could his father and the elders possibly let him die so easily? More precisely, he did not even have the right to die now. He had to atone to the entire clan.
Earlier, Yu Yuanzhen had ordered Yu Luomian and the elders not to approach Yu Xiaolong's and Yu Xiaogang's rooms, lest they disturb their treatment.
Thus, only after seeing the Ye Family's current Nine Heart Begonia bearer finish treating them and leave did those waiting for news in the courtyard finally enter the room.
The sight of Yu Xiaolong grinning foolishly struck every one of them like thunder from a clear sky.
It was over. The most outstanding member of the next generation had actually become an idiot. If word got out, who knew how the other clans and factions would ridicule their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?
The murderous gazes of Yu Luomian and the elders all converged on Yu Xiaogang, sending a chill down his spine.
Yu Luomian even rushed over and grabbed Yu Xiaogang by the collar, intending to offer him the most heartfelt "care," but Yu Yuanzhen shouted for him to stop.
"Stop! We've only just paid such a steep price to bring them around. If you keep hitting him, we'll have to invite someone to save him again. Wouldn't that be a waste? Drag him away and lock him in the clan dungeon for ten years. Make him pay for what he's done."
Yu Xiaogang immediately stared at his father in disbelief. His father actually intended to lock him up for ten years.
Ten years in a dungeon that never saw daylight would be worse than death. He would rather die than spend ten years locked inside.
But his father's orders were not something he could resist. Soon, he was dragged away and thrown into the dungeon.
After Yu Xiaogang was dragged away, Yu Yuanzhen turned his gaze toward Yu Luomian and the elders.
"Second Brother, elders, although Xiaogang bears responsibility for this incident, one hand alone cannot clap. That man named Zhao Ling also bears a great deal of responsibility.
"Single-handedly, he ground our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's dignity into the dirt. How do you think we should handle this?"
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes were piercing as he stared fixedly at Yu Luomian and the elders, seemingly hoping they could give him a satisfactory answer.
The commanding presence he had acquired over many years as clan leader radiated from him. For a moment, everyone unconsciously stopped breathing, including Yu Luomian and the elders...
Chapter 79: Don't Behave Like a Child
"How should we handle it? What else can we do? Didn't they say that Zhao fellow is bent on currying favor with Spirit Hall? I suspect he targeted our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan like this precisely to gain Spirit Hall's goodwill.
"He must know our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is at odds with Spirit Hall, so he used us as his pledge of allegiance, humiliating us again and again. This is outright rebellion!"
The First Elder snorted, his grizzled beard trembling. The mere thought of someone daring to disregard the dignity and glory of their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan made him shake with anger.
To him, protecting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's dignity and glory mattered more than his own life.
For that Zhao fellow to dare humiliate their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan like this was like carrying a lantern into a latrine-he was looking for death.
"Revenge! We must have revenge! Yu Xiaogang is trash, so if he gets beaten, so be it. But how could that Zhao fellow beat Xiaolong out of his senses? He has absolutely no regard for our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's prestige. How can we tolerate such insolence?"
Yu Luomian also snorted angrily, clenching his right fist and slamming it hard against the wooden door, a sharp glint flashing in his piercing eyes.
His words made Yu Yuanzhen frown in displeasure. Granted, his second son was indeed trash, but his younger brother should not have said it outright.
Telling an old father to his face how useless his second son was would upset him, however broad-minded he might be.
However, no one noticed Yu Yuanzhen's reaction. The Second Elder clenched both hands and forced his words through gritted teeth.
"That's right! Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan isn't so easily bullied. No matter what, we cannot simply let someone who dares trample our clan's glory underfoot get away with it. Revenge! We must have revenge!"
Hearing their words, the other clansmen who had gathered outside Yu Xiaolong's room shared their hatred.
"Revenge! Revenge! Death to anyone who tramples the dignity of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
Hearing the entire clan united in hatred and determined to avenge his eldest son, Yu Yuanzhen nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. In that case, First Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder, leave for Suotuo City tomorrow morning and bring that scoundrel back!"
Upon hearing Yu Yuanzhen's order, the elders immediately began discussing it excitedly.
They would show absolutely no mercy to someone so brazen as to dare humiliate their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
They were already discussing how, once they found that Zhao fellow, they would break all four of his limbs.
After bringing him back to the clan, they would skin him, stuff his hide with straw, and hang him at the clan's mountain gate, making every faction on the Douluo Continent understand that their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was not to be trifled with.
For anyone who dared offend their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, this Zhao fellow would serve as their example. At this point in their discussion, the three elders' faces were filled with cruelty, the madness in their eyes plain to see.
Yu Luomian, however, was displeased. Why had his older brother entrusted this task to those three old things rather than him? He felt it was unfair.
His determination to defend the clan's glory was clearly no less than theirs. If he encountered that Zhao fellow, he would certainly leave him unable either to live or to die.
He wanted to say something, but Yu Yuanzhen waved at everyone. "Enough. This matter is settled. All of you may leave. Don't disturb Xiaolong's rest..."
Everyone turned and left Yu Xiaolong's room, but Yu Luomian remained after the others had gone.
At this, Yu Yuanzhen frowned slightly and asked with displeasure, "What is it, Second Brother? Why haven't you left?"
Sensing the displeasure in his older brother's eyes, Yu Luomian nonetheless did not avert his gaze.
"Brother, I want to go to Suotuo City to find that Zhao fellow too. He dared insult our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. I'll make him regret being born."
"Second Brother, I've already entrusted this matter to the three elders. You should stay in the clan. While the three elders are in Suotuo City, clan affairs will surely keep us busy.
"All those matters will fall on our shoulders. Our responsibilities are just as important. As your older brother, I hope you won't behave like a child."
"But, Brother, I..." Yu Luomian wanted to press his case again, but Yu Yuanzhen interrupted him once more.
"Second Brother, stop making trouble. You know perfectly well how important you and I are to the clan! Go attend to your duties."
Having been dismissed, Yu Luomian could only obediently turn and leave, though inwardly he seethed. Why wouldn't his brother let him make a trip to Suotuo City? Damn it.
Leaving resentfully, Yu Luomian encountered his son Yu Xiaojiao in the courtyard, just back from an outing.
Seemingly sensing his displeasure, Yu Xiaojiao hurried forward and asked tentatively.
"Father, I heard my older cousin Xiaolong and younger cousin Xiaogang returned injured. Some even say Xiaolong has become an idiot. What exactly happened?"
Seeing his son, Yu Luomian sighed softly and explained what had happened.
Yu Xiaojiao immediately clenched his fists, his face filled with resentment. "Damn it! Who dares be so arrogant? Father, it's all right if you can't leave the clan. Why don't I head to Suotuo City tonight in your place..."
Yu Luomian gave his son a long look. His son was weaker than his eldest nephew. Wouldn't running off to find that Zhao fellow be delivering his own head from a thousand miles away-a light gift bearing deep affection?
Perhaps his son would also be an idiot by the time he returned. That would be losing more than they gained.
"Forget it. Your younger sister has been away from home for some time. If you have time, why don't you help me search carefully around Heaven Dou City?
"Your sister never lets me stop worrying either. She didn't even tell me where she was going. Ah..."
Thinking of his beautiful but hot-tempered younger sister, Yu Xiaojiao could only nod, turn, and leave.
Meanwhile, in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's dungeon, Yu Xiaogang lay sprawled on the ground, his face filled with humiliation.
The collateral clan members who had always treated him with the utmost respect now looked at him with mocking, derisive eyes.
Yu Xiaogang felt terribly stifled. He had originally left the clan to find an opportunity to improve his strength quickly and prove to the clan that he was not trash.
Yet so much had happened, and he had even caused his older brother to become an idiot.
He was consumed with regret now, regretting why he had ever gone to the Great Soul Arena.
But soon, he thought of Miss Dong'er, who had used a Handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Then he felt that his visit to the Great Soul Arena had not been a loss. At least it had allowed him to meet a girl as beautiful and innocent as Miss Dong'er.
Only now, he had been brought back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and would be locked up for ten years.
Whether he would even have a chance to see Miss Dong'er again after ten years was uncertain. Even if he did, she would probably already be someone's wife. At that thought, Yu Xiaogang felt utterly miserable...
Chapter 80: What a Pity
Two days later, after Spirit Hall's members finished their final arena match.
The objectives of their visit to Suotuo City had finally all been fulfilled, and Spirit Hall's party planned to return to Spirit City the following day.
Bibi Dong's eyes kept searching the densely packed crowds inside the Great Soul Arena, and she sighed softly from time to time.
"Ah, that idiot Yu Xiaogang has been missing for so many days. My hands have been itching lately, but there's no one for me to teach a lesson. How boring."
"I really want to pin him to the ground and give him a few thorough beatings. Otherwise, once I return to Spirit Hall, who knows when I'll find someone so suitable to use as a punching bag again?"
"What a pity. Not getting to beat him a few more times has left my meals tasteless and my sleep restless."
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