Who Is Smearing Our Bloodline?

If Lu Ye hadn't known about Imu in advance, he might have wondered why Garling was so defiant. Once he understood, he realized...

Wasn't this just the cabinet quarreling with the imperial clan court?

"Garling, if Pucout and the others hadn't come to complain, do you think we would have wanted to interfere in these matters?"

The Five Elders glared at Garling, their gazes hostile.

Pucout, the genius singled out by name, shuddered as cold sweat rolled down his forehead...

Out of all these people, you had to name me? Are they your own grandsons while I was picked up off the street?

Or do you think that because I'm fat, I can take more of a beating?

Garling glanced at Pucout and sneered.

"We should each mind our own affairs. We're all working for the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, so don't cross the line.

"People were bound to die on the Path of the Strong. What I can guarantee is that the deaths will be kept within an acceptable limit."

The short, blond-haired Elder said in displeasure:

"Judging by the number of people injured, we can assume that the Path of the Strong is no longer under your control."

As the two sides stood at daggers drawn, a small hand rose, and a clear voice spoke unhurriedly:

"Since you're talking about me, may I say a few words?"

Everyone's gaze fell on the boy who had spoken.

"I'm the one who injured them. But if you think I did something wrong, forgive me for questioning whether the Five Elders are capable of keeping the seas calm. Your weakness makes me laugh."

As soon as Lu Ye finished speaking, Garling threw back his head and laughed without restraint.

The Celestial Dragons in the corner forgot all about their injuries and squeezed desperately farther inside.

Are we even entitled to hear this? Garling can mouth off at the Five Elders, but how dare you, you little bastard?

If you'd told us you were crazy, why would we have bothered complaining?!

Wait-wasn't he called the Mad King?

The round-faced, balding Elder with a white, wavy beard spoke in a deep voice:

"Brat, don't think you can do whatever you please in the Holy Land just because Garling is protecting you."

"Do whatever I please?"

Before Garling could speak, Lu Ye stood up and said, feigning shock:

"Old man! I'm already holding back my anger. If I really did whatever I pleased, no one would have complained about me. I'd have killed them all!"

Dad!

My real dad!

I'm not complaining anymore. I just want to go home!

The Celestial Dragons in the corner huddled together, their faces pale and their eyes dry despite wanting to cry. They wished they could slap themselves twice.

The bald Elder in the white kendo robes looked coldly at Garling. "This is what you call still being within control?"

Garling leaned against the sofa's armrest, propping his cheek on one hand, the corners of his mouth raised.

"Why not ask him his reasons, my dear Stars?

"He's only three. Perhaps, with your wisdom, you can change his mind?"

Flames seemed to dance in Garling's eyes.

Have a taste of Longinus's pure arrogance!

You foolish old men, sitting in the Room of Authority until you've lost your minds!

Lu Ye picked up a cup from the coffee table and took a sip, paying the others no mind.

Mmm, a lingering aftertaste. Top-quality black tea!

"We are the supreme Celestial Dragons, descendants of the Creators, with the blood of gods flowing in our veins...

"But, gentlemen, someone is now smearing our bloodline. You know that person isn't me, don't you?"

Holding his teacup, Lu Ye smiled politely at the trembling crowd in the corner.

"Their bodies are weak and feeble. When danger comes, all they can do is complain and cry for help.

"Their faces are ugly. The divine mother high in the heavens showed them not a shred of mercy.

"Their heads are empty, and they know and learn nothing. All they do is spend their time at the arena and at endless balls.

"Their morals are vile. Suffering follows wherever they go. How many of our enemies have they nurtured with hatred?

"When the world sees them, people will think we're the same-

"That the Holy Knights are twelve ugly knights too weak to truss a chicken, riding slaves as they defend the Holy Land.

"That the Five Elders are five fat, foolish old men, sitting in the Room of Authority and issuing orders."

Undisguised disgust and killing intent flashed in Lu Ye's eyes.

"It makes me sick! I'm strong and handsome, learned and elegant. Why should I bear the burden of their bad name?"

The round-faced, balding Elder with a white, wavy beard said calmly:

"As Celestial Dragons, we have a duty to protect our weaker compatriots."

Lu Ye burst out laughing.

"Huh? You mean I should train hard day and night, eventually become a perfect warrior of the sea, and use my life and blood to drive off every enemy that attacks the Holy Land-

"All to protect this bunch of trash, so they can drink and indulge themselves without a care?"

The bald Elder in the white kendo robes said calmly:

"Not everyone has the aptitude to become strong. But even without that aptitude, those of Celestial Dragon blood have the right to enjoy this world."

Lu Ye chuckled and raised his teacup to the bald Elder.

"If we exiled you to a country that isn't an Affiliated Nation of the World Government, and publicly promised not to pursue anyone who harmed you, would you be afraid?"

The bald Elder shook his head slightly. "There's no one on these seas who can hurt me..."

"Impressive confidence!"

Lu Ye clapped his hands in admiration, then looked at the Celestial Dragons shrinking back in the corner. "Pucout... that's your name, right? What about you? Would you be afraid?"

Pucout's face turned deathly pale. Are we that close? Don't call my name at a time like this!

"I... of course I wouldn't be afraid either. I'm a Celestial Dragon!"

"Want to try it?

"Perhaps it wouldn't even take an hour for a mob to tear you to pieces.

"Even if that didn't happen, you wouldn't last a week. You understand nothing and can do nothing except indulge yourself.

"Gentlemen, this is dirty blood!

"Trash who would otherwise starve to death at sea enjoy the same things we do, all because of their impure bloodline. And they're shameless and self-important on top of it.

"How many of our resources have been wasted by allowing this trash to exist!"

Lu Ye spread his arms, closed his eyes, and drew a deep breath before laughing.

"Gentlemen, I have two proposals that might truly protect the Holy Land, instead of making those of superior blood suffer and toil while allowing dirty-blooded parasites to gnaw at the World Government's foundations."

Garling propped up his cheek, the corners of his mouth rising in a wicked smile.

"Speak your mind, Longinus! The stale air in the Room of Authority is making me sleepy. It's time these old men heard a young voice."

Lu Ye grabbed a pastry from the coffee table and popped it into his mouth.

"My first proposal is to hang this bunch of dirty-blooded Celestial Dragons, every last one of them. The World Government has stood for eight hundred years, and the nineteen families have become a behemoth of nearly ten thousand people. It's time to trim it down."

Lu Ye swept his gaze over the Five Elders. "If you're afraid of spilling Celestial Dragon blood, you can leave it to me. The fragrance of flowing dirty blood is simply intoxicating."

"No!"

Unexpectedly, Garling was the first to speak.

"Though I despise them too, if we set a precedent for attacking our own, in the long run, the Celestial Dragons couldn't survive for long either."

The Celestial Dragons in the corner all breathed a sigh of relief. They had nearly been scared to death just now.

"Uncle, you really think far ahead."

Lu Ye shrugged.

"My second proposal is that we stop distributing the Heavenly Tribute to dirty-blooded Celestial Dragons from now on, and give it instead to pure-blooded Celestial Dragons who can shoulder the future of the Celestial Dragons, putting it to proper use in supporting the Celestial Dragon families."

"No!"

The short, blond-haired Elder folded his hands.

"The Heavenly Tribute is meant to support the lives of Celestial Dragons. We have disappointing offspring of our own, and Garling has a son. Longinus, you also have... dirty-blooded parents.

"Wouldn't you care if they suffered?"

The corners of Garling's mouth rose. "Sorry, I lost one child at God Valley. The one I have left may not be as gifted as Longinus, but I'll be angry if you call him dirty-blooded."

"I really don't care."

Lu Ye curled his lip. "As one of the Five Elders, you actually put your personal family ties ahead of the interests of the Celestial Dragon families. How disappointing!

"If you agree to the first proposal, not only will I consent to killing my parents, I can throw in two older brothers as well."

The Celestial Dragons trembled in the corner, regretting more than ever that they had come.

The Five Elders' faces also darkened. As monsters granted immortality, their five family lines were the most prosperous and best preserved among the nineteen families.

Pangaea Castle's school.

Doffy sneezed several times in a row, adjusted his sunglasses, and muttered:

"After eating barbecue yesterday, I seem to have caught a chill in the wind. Fuffuffuffu... Third Brother's barbecue really is delicious!"