Chapter 43 - Dragon-Type

From what Yang Yuntian knew of Long Chen’s personality and how he treated the Bai family, he knew that Long Chen was a person who always sought revenge.

Since Yang Yuntian had almost gotten him killed and the patriarch had given Long Chen the power to decide his punishment, Yang Yuntian knew that he was in trouble.

Yang Yuntian knew that a person like Long Chen would not keep a potential threat so close to him.

But Long Chen’s reply completely overturned his expectations.

When the Yang family heard Long Chen’s words, they all sighed in relief. Yang Lingqing smiled, gazing sweetly at Long Chen.

Long Chen let Yang Yuntian go because of three simple reasons. First, although Long Chen hadn’t expected Yang Zhan to kill himself, it was true that he was the catalyst for Yang Zhan’s death. He had caused the death of someone’s son; it was only natural that Yang Yuntian would want revenge.

That was why Yang Yuntian’s behavior wasn’t exactly unexpected.

Second, Yang Yuntian was Yang Lingqing’s father. Long Chen and Yang Lingqing were very close now and he loved her very much as a cousin. Naturally, he wouldn’t want to punish Yang Yuntian.

Third and the most important reason was that Yang Yuntian would never be a match for him after today.

Yang Yuntian looked up at Long Chen in disbelief. “Are you sure? You want to call it even?”

Long Chen nodded and said, “I hope you’ll live by your word. I don’t want to be on guard against you all the time while living with the Yang family. Otherwise, I might as well kill you.”

Yang Yuntian looked at the teenager and thought about the insane speed of his improvement. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

Long Chen’s stellar talent had exceeded his imagination so he nodded woodenly. “I will live by the promises I’ve made today.”

The Yang patriarch looked at his grandson with quiet approval and a hint of pride. “Alright, then the matter is closed. From today onwards, the Yang family must stick together to fight the Bai family as one! Anyone who stands in the way of our unity will not be forgiven!”

He looked around again and sighed. “I’m a little tired. Go and have a good rest. No one is to leave the house without my permission, understood?”

Everyone nodded. They were about to excuse themselves when Long Chen spoke up suddenly, “Grandfather, wait. I have something to say.”

He looked at Yang Xueqing for a second. However, Yang Xueqing was probably feeling awkward and regretful so she had kept her head lowered all night.

The Yang patriarch replied solemnly, “Chen’er, speak. We’re listening.”

“Grandfather, my father told me before he died that he wanted my surname to be Long. From today on, please call me Long Chen. I hope you can help me fulfill my father’s last wish.”

Everyone was a little nervous because of his words, especially Yang Xueqing, who shuddered but still did not look up.

Without skill and position, Long Chen could not publicly announce Long Qinglan’s last wish. But after tonight’s incident and his fast-improving capabilities, he knew it was time. The Yang patriarch looked at him anxiously, “Chen’er, are you leaving the Yang family? Is it because we didn’t treat you well enough?”

Long Chen shook his head. “No, I am still half Yang. Nothing will change for me with the Yang family. I only wish to take my father’s surname.”

Since it had been Long Qinglan’s dying wish and Long Chen was so determined, the Yang patriarch had no reason to deny him. Long Chen was not leaving the Yang family over this anyway. Hence, the patriarch nodded and said, “Since it’s Long Qinglan’s last wish, it’s up to you.”

Now that he had fulfilled one of Long Qinglan’s final wishes, Long Chen nodded excitedly. Everyone slowly bade the Yang patriarch a good night before leaving. Yang Qingxuan was the last to leave. He turned and said, “Father, you must be tired. Get some rest. There’s still the appointment tomorrow with the mayor and the Bai family might cause trouble.”

The patriarch shook his head. “Let me sit alone for a while and gather my thoughts. Xuan’er, get some rest.”

Yang Qingxuan could only nod in exasperation.

***

It was going to be a sleepless night.

After saying goodnight to the others, Long Chen headed to his quarters. After a short walk, he noticed Yang Xueqing climbing over a wall and leaving her compound. The patriarch had just forbidden everyone from leaving without his permission; had Yang Xueqing forgotten already?

Long Chen’s greatest achievement today had been changing this woman’s impression of him.

After sixteen years, Long Chen finally felt the familial bond between them. It was great news to him. When he saw Yang Xueqing leave the compound, he was naturally worried for her safety and followed her. “Xiao Xi, where do you think she’s going?”

“You bastard, I’m not talking to you!”

Long Chen instantly dripped with cold sweat. He had indeed said some mean words to her in fear that she would be in mortal danger for helping him. He hadn’t expected the girl to bear a grudge. So he tried to soothe her, “Hey, I made a mistake and I admit I was unintentionally mean. Just treat me like I’m a dumb donkey, alright? Woof woof woof!”

Ling Xi burst into laughter and corrected him. “That’s the sound of a dog, stupid! A donkey says ‘hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw!’”

“Ah? So you’re the donkey.”

“... Shut up, shut up!”

“Please, have mercy!”

Ling Xi finally stopped torturing his ear after he placated her with much effort. Now that Ling Xi had turned the sword into a stud on his ear, she could torture him whenever she wanted.

But Long Chen saw that Yang Xueqing had already reached outside of town and quickly followed her.

After walking a long time, he realized the route was familiar and tried to recall. Isn’t this the path towards Long Qinglan’s grave?

Long Chen had never brought her there so he didn’t expect her to know. But thanks to her power in the Yang family, looking for a grave outside town was a simple task.

Very soon, Yang Xueqing was standing in front of Long Qinglan’s grave. She stood in a daze, staring down as Long Chen watched her from afar.

He didn’t know what the woman was doing either.

Yang Xueqing didn’t say a word. She sat on the ground and leaned on the tombstone, staring at the stars in the sky, deep in thought. She looked beautiful beneath the stars as starlight lit up her eyes and pale cheeks.

Long Chen was suddenly emotional watching his mother lean on his father’s tombstone, staring at the stars. He had never seen such a sweet scene. “She’s mumbling to herself,” said Ling Xi suddenly.

“What is she saying?” he asked anxiously.

Ling Xi listened for a while, then repeated Yang Xueqing’s words while imitating her tone. “... If you hadn’t treated me like that years ago, I wouldn’t have hated you this much. And I wouldn’t have hated my own son so much. Long Qinglan, to me, you’re just a madman ...”

Long Chen froze. Long Qinglan was a madman in Yang Xueqing’s eyes? Why did she think so? He always thought Yang Xueqing abandoned Long Qinglan and him because Long Qinglan had lost all his abilities. Did she have other reasons?

Long Chen stared at Yang Xueqing’s pained expression in a daze. Ling Xi continued to imitate her, “... You searched the entire Ten Thousand Nations Territory to find a girl like me with a suitable body just to produce a child that fulfilled your standards. I know you’re high up there with cultivation beyond my imagination. But you still don’t have the right to trample on my feelings like that ...

“Today, Chen’er finally said he wanted to be a Long. You’ve won. I’ve never been your match. Perhaps to you, I’m just a peasant girl who doesn’t deserve a man like you, a man far beyond my reach.”

Yang Xueqing’s words shook Long Chen to the core.

Long Chen finally knew why Yang Xueqing treated him so coldly. Not because she was a cold person at heart but because Long Qinglan had indeed caused her great pain.

Long Chen knew that Long Qinglan came from an extremely powerful location and naturally had a lofty position. His abilities were definitely not limited to the Eighth Draconic Stage that he displayed. That was only what he showed everyone when he arrived at Baiyang Town.

Long Chen could guess the sequence of events: Long Qinglan’s cultivation had been destroyed by the dragon jade but he refused to disappear from the world like that. And so, he wanted to have a child whose body could withstand the dragon jade. That’s why he found Yang Xueqing.

What happened next was exactly as Yang Xueqing said. When she found out the truth, she could not accept the fact that she was just a vessel for reproduction to him.

Long Chen was a product of Long Qinglan’s efforts but to Yang Xueqing, Long Chen had robbed her of love and a happy marriage. The more importance Long Qinglan placed on this matter, the more hatred she felt.

In the past, Long Chen had lived the life of a scoundrel, but now that he was starting to shine, Yang Xueqing knew she had lost. In the end, she was just a pitiful woman.

Long Chen’s hatred towards Yang Xueqing finally dispersed.

Long Chen felt his entire being truly relaxed for the first time. He had dissolved the enmity between himself and his two greatest nemeses in the Yang family, Yang Yuntian and Yang Xueqing. They didn’t have to be cold towards one another like before. Long Chen had always wanted a sense of belonging and to face the world with his family. “Father, I know why you did this but there were some things you did wrong. You let her down.

“But, it’s fine. I, Long Chen, will right your wrongs.”

Long Chen’s eyes grew red as he thought about Yang Xueqing’s life. It was pitiful indeed. When she first thought she’d met her true love, she didn’t know he only saw her as a reproductive vessel. And the next time she thought she would finally get a happy life, she was betrayed and almost got her father and brothers killed.

As he recalled the way he used to treat her, Long Chen felt like he too was at fault. “She looks so sad crying there ... I ... I’m going to cry too ...”

Beneath the moonlight, Yang Xueqing sobbed in great grief. Ling Xi felt terrible listening to her soft sobs while Long Chen clenched his fist tight and sighed. “It’s time for me to stop hating her ...”