"Enough!"
A thunderous roar detonated inside the council hall.
The terrifying sound waves shook dust loose from the stone pillars, cascading down like rain.
Yu Yuanzhen—who had been sitting at the head of the hall, barely maintaining his Sect Master composure—was finally ignited by Liu Erlong's words, "powerless rage."
Bang!
The brand-new obsidian round table before him—installed this very morning—was smashed apart by his iron palm.
Veins of blue lightning crawled across his arm as the tabletop shattered like glass struck by a siege hammer, exploding into chunks of obsidian that scattered across the floor.
An Elder in charge of the Sect's finances twitched violently.
His hand flew to his chest.
His vision went dark.
Another table…
That slab had been hauled from the extreme north at enormous cost, carved and polished by the Sect's best craftsmen. Just that single strike had erased a staggering amount of gold coins.
This month's budget… is finished.
As the table disintegrated, an overbearing Dragon Aura—unique to a peak attack-type Titled Douluo—erupted outward like a tidal wave.
The air thickened instantly, as though congealing into amber. A sharp, metallic scent of lightning filled everyone's nostrils.
"What are you?!"
Yu Yuanzhen surged to his feet, his massive frame trembling with fury.
He pointed straight at Liu Erlong, each word ground out through clenched teeth, cold enough to freeze bone.
"A bastard who defiled the noble bloodline of my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!"
"How dare you shout in my presence?!"
"Who gave you the courage?!"
The reason he hadn't struck her earlier wasn't mercy.
It was because Liu Erlong was Yu Luomian's daughter. Because she was a Spirit Saint. Because Yu Xiaogang had indeed wronged her.
But patience had limits.
Now she dared push further.
If he tolerated this, he would no longer be Yu Yuanzhen.
The crushing pressure descended.
It was like a mountain slammed onto Liu Erlong's shoulders.
Her bones groaned under the weight.
Normally, this alone would have forced her to kneel—or collapse outright.
But at this moment, Liu Erlong's heart burned with worry for Yu Xiaogang and fury so intense it drowned out fear.
She held.
Not only did she not kneel—she straightened.
Her spine trembled, nearly breaking, yet she lifted her head, eyes blazing with madness, meeting Yu Yuanzhen's killing gaze head-on.
"I am a bastard!"
Her voice shook—but sharpened.
"But even I, a bastard, know how to fight for the one I love!"
"And you?!"
She forced a step forward, blood roaring in her ears, lungs screaming.
"You—high and mighty Sect Master, mighty father—what can you do besides smashing tables and raging uselessly?!"
The hall went deathly pale.
Even the finance Elder forgot about his shattered table.
This woman wasn't provoking death.
She was inviting it.
"Presumptuous!"
Yu Luomian finally moved.
If this continued, his elder brother would truly kill her.
Slap!
The sound was sharp and echoing, cutting through the lingering thunder.
Yu Luomian's hand struck Liu Erlong's face, snapping her head aside. Blood welled faintly at the corner of her lips.
The pressure resisting her shattered.
She staggered, ears ringing, disbelief flooding her eyes as she looked at her own father.
Yu Luomian didn't look back.
He bowed deeply to Yu Yuanzhen.
"Elder Brother, please calm your anger!"
"She is ignorant, driven by emotion. Do not lower yourself to her level!"
Then he spun around, voice hard as iron.
"You rebellious child! You understand nothing, yet dare spout nonsense here!"
"Do you think the Sect has done nothing?!"
Yu Luomian's voice struck like a hammer.
"Elder Brother already dispatched the Sect's elite Shadow Guards early this morning to rescue Yu Xiaogang!"
"You think you're the only one who cares?!"
Liu Erlong froze.
Her mind blanked.
Rescue…?
Someone had already gone?
The fury evaporated instantly.
"Guards!" Yu Luomian barked. "Take her away! Lock her in confinement and let her reflect!"
"Yes!"
Two guards rushed in, seizing Liu Erlong by both arms.
Yu Luomian turned back, apologetic.
"Elder Brother, she is young and reckless. You—"
"Hmph."
Yu Yuanzhen flicked his sleeve and sat back down, no longer sparing her a glance.
A storm that could have ended in bloodshed… seemed to settle.
And Liu Erlong—this love-struck fool—finally absorbed the words "someone already went to rescue him."
She no longer resisted.
She no longer shouted.
She forgot the pain burning on her face.
Relief flooded her body, washing away everything else.
She allowed herself to be dragged out, even wearing the faint expression of someone who had narrowly escaped catastrophe.
But just before leaving—
"Wait!"
She struggled again.
"I'm not leaving! I'll wait here until Xiaogang returns!"
The guards hesitated.
Yu Luomian's temple throbbed violently.
He was about to erupt—
When suddenly—
"Report—!"
A shrill, sobbing cry pierced the hall.
A Disciple responsible for intelligence stumbled in, falling to his knees before even saluting, face drained of all color.
"Sect Master! Something terrible has happened!"
The air froze.
Yu Yuanzhen's heart sank.
A premonition like a venomous snake coiled around his chest.
"Calm yourself. Speak."
The Disciple looked up, eyes hollow, voice on the brink of collapse.
"The rescue team… the one sent to save Yu Xiaogang…"
"…was ambushed by unknown forces."
"They're all dead."
"Not a single one… returned."
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